Communication method and device

Abstract

An embodiment of this application provides a communication method and apparatus. The method includes: a terminal device can report a first switching delay for switching within a frequency band group, or a terminal device can report a second switching delay for switching between frequency band groups, so that a network device can schedule uplink data for the terminal device based on the switching delay, and the terminal device can effectively implement frequency band switching within or between frequency band groups, that is, the terminal device can flexibly and effectively switch between multiple frequency bands, thereby ensuring data transmission performance.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] TECHNICAL FIELD Embodiments of this application relate to the field of wireless communications, and more particularly, to communication methods and devices. [Background technology]

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202210260407.2, entitled “COMMUNICATION METHOD AND APPARATUS,” filed with the China State Intellectual Property Office on March 16, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0003] In scenarios such as supplementary uplink (UL, SUL) scenarios, terminal devices need to switch between multiple frequency bands (e.g., 700 MHz to 800 MHz, 700 MHz to 900 MHz, 1.8 GHz to 2.1 GHz, and 3.5 GHz to 4.9 GHz) to ensure data transmission performance.

[0004] Generally, considering the cost of the terminal device, the complexity of the hardware, etc., the number of phase-locked loops of the terminal device is not completely consistent with the number of frequency bands. Therefore, when the terminal device needs to switch between multiple frequency bands, and when the number of phase-locked loops of the terminal device is not consistent with the number of frequency bands, how to effectively switch between multiple frequency bands so as to ensure data transmission performance becomes an urgent problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The embodiments of this application provide a communication method and apparatus, so that a terminal device can effectively implement frequency band switching within a frequency band group, that is, the terminal device can flexibly and effectively switch between multiple frequency bands, thereby ensuring data transmission performance.

[0006] According to a first aspect, a communication method is provided. The method may be implemented by a terminal device (e.g., user equipment) or a component (e.g., a chip or a circuit) of the terminal device, without being limited thereto.

[0007] The method includes: the terminal device determining first switching delays of N frequency band groups, the N frequency band groups including an i-th frequency band group, the first switching delays of the N frequency band groups including an i-th first switching delay, the i-th first switching delay being a delay for switching by the terminal device between at least two different frequency bands included in the i-th frequency band group, where N is a positive integer; and the terminal device transmitting first information to the network device, the first information including the first switching delays of the N frequency band groups.

[0008] A "frequency band group" referred to in this application may be understood as a "frequency band set." A "frequency band" may be replaced with a "carrier," "band," or "carrier within a frequency band." A "frequency band group" may be replaced with a "carrier group" or "carrier set." "Within a frequency band" may be understood as "on a carrier within a frequency band."

[0009] In this application, the frequency band group #1 (e.g., the first frequency band group) and the frequency band group #2 (e.g., the second frequency band group) may be completely different. In other words, the frequency bands included in the frequency band group #1 and the frequency bands included in the frequency band group #2 may be completely different frequency bands. Alternatively, the frequency band group #1 and the frequency band group #2 may have an intersection set. In other words, in this application, the frequency bands of the frequency band group #1 and the frequency bands of the frequency band group #2 are incompletely the same. That is, the two groups may have the same frequency band or may have different frequency bands.

[0010] In this application, a frequency band group may include "at least one frequency band."

[0011] In this application, all of the N frequency band groups may be pre-configured by the network device. For example, the network device may perform the pre-configuration as follows: Frequency band group #1 may include {frequency band #A, frequency band #B}, frequency band group #2 may include {frequency band #A, frequency band #C}, frequency band group #3 may include {frequency band #A, frequency band #B, frequency band #C}, and so on.

[0012] When the "frequency band" in this application is understood as a "carrier", for example, frequency band #A supports three carriers, i.e., carrier #1, carrier #2, and carrier #3, frequency band #B supports four carriers, i.e., carrier #4, carrier #5, carrier #6, and carrier #7, frequency band #C supports two carriers, i.e., carrier #8 and carrier #9, and frequency band #D supports two carriers, i.e., carrier #10 and carrier #11. "Frequency band group #1 includes {frequency band #A, frequency band #B}" may mean that carrier group #1 includes carrier #1 and carrier #6. "Frequency band group #2 may include {frequency band #A, frequency band #C}" may mean that carrier group #2 includes carrier #8 and carrier #3.

[0013] In this application, the following switching in frequency band groups can also be understood as, for example, switching between carrier #1 and carrier #6 in carrier group #1, or, in another example, switching between carrier #3 and carrier #8 in carrier group #2. The following switching between frequency band groups (e.g., switching between frequency band group #1 and frequency band group #2) can also be understood as switching between carrier groups (e.g., switching between carrier group #1 and carrier group #2).

[0014] For example, frequency band #A may be 3.5 GHz, frequency band #B may be 2.1 GHz, frequency band #C may be 1.8 GHz, frequency band #D may be 700 MHz / 800 MHz / 900 MHz, etc.

[0015] In this application, the network device may semi-statically configure the frequency band group. For example, the network device may configure the frequency band group of the terminal device once every five slots. For example, the terminal device may pre-lock a phase-locked loop to the corresponding frequency band in the fifth slot.

[0016] Based on the above technical solution, in this application, the terminal device may report a first switching delay of N frequency band groups, and the first switching delay is a delay for the terminal device to switch between at least two different frequency bands included in the frequency band group. In other words, the terminal device may report a delay for switching within the frequency band group, and the network device may schedule uplink data to the terminal device so that the terminal device can effectively perform frequency band switching within the frequency band group. That is, the terminal device can flexibly and effectively switch between multiple frequency bands, thereby ensuring data transmission performance.

[0017] In a possible implementation, the first information further includes an i-th frequency band group identifier, where the i-th frequency band group identifier is any one of the N frequency band group identifiers, and the N frequency band group identifiers correspond one-to-one to the switching delays of the N frequency band groups.

[0018] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: the terminal device receiving frequency band group identification information from the network device, where the frequency band group identification information includes N frequency band group identifiers.

[0019] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: the N frequency band group identifiers may be pre-configured.

[0020] Based on the above technical solution, in this application, a correspondence between a frequency band group identifier and a frequency band group is used, so that the frequency band groups can be distinguished from each other. In this way, the terminal device can report a first switching delay corresponding to the frequency band group identifier (this can also be understood as reporting the first switching delay by using the frequency band group as granularity). Compared with the existing approach in which the terminal device reports the switching delay by using each frequency band as granularity, in this embodiment, the signaling overhead can be greatly reduced.

[0021] In a possible implementation, the first information further includes a number of transmission radio frequency chains supported by the terminal device in at least two different frequency bands, and the first information is used by the network device to determine scheduling of the uplink data.

[0022] Based on the above technical solution, in this application, the terminal device may further report the number of transmission radio frequency chains supported in different frequency bands, so that when scheduling uplink data, the network device may further determine the switching delay required to switch between frequency bands based on the ability of supporting the radio frequency chains by the terminal device, and schedule appropriate resources for the uplink data to the terminal device, which improves data transmission performance.

[0023] In a possible implementation, the first switch delay is an item of a first switch set, the first switch set including 0 microseconds and 35 microseconds.

[0024] In this application, the values ​​in the first switch set can be less than or equal to 35 microseconds. For example, the first switch set can include {0 microseconds, 30 microseconds, 35 microseconds}, or the first switch set can include {0 microseconds, 35 microseconds}, or the first switch set can include {0 microseconds, 15 microseconds, 20 microseconds, 35 microseconds}.

[0025] Based on the above technical solution, in this application, the phase-locked loop can be pre-locked to the switched frequency band. When the pre-switched frequency band and the switched frequency band are in different channels, the switching between the two different frequency bands can be implemented in 0 microseconds. In this way, the delay for switching between the two frequency bands by the terminal device can be greatly reduced, and the switching can be completed more efficiently. This ensures the data transmission performance.

[0026] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: the terminal device receiving second information from the network device, where the second information indicates a target frequency band group identifier; and the terminal device performing frequency band switching within the target frequency band group corresponding to the target frequency band group identifier based on the second information, where the target frequency band group identifier is one or more of the N frequency band group identifiers.

[0027] Based on the aforementioned technical solutions, in this application, the network device further dynamically indicates the frequency band group into which the terminal device is to perform switching, so that the flexibility and real-time quality of performing switching within the frequency band group by the terminal device may be improved.

[0028] According to a second aspect, a communication method is provided, the method may be implemented by a terminal device (e.g., user equipment) or a component (e.g., a chip or a circuit) of the terminal device, without being limited thereto.

[0029] The method includes: the terminal device determining M second switching delays, where a jth second switching delay is a delay for switching by the terminal device between a first frequency band group and a second frequency band group, the jth second switching delay being one of the M second switching delays, where the first frequency band group and the second frequency band group each include at least one frequency band, and M is a positive integer; and the terminal device transmitting third information to the network device, where the third information includes at least the jth second switching delay.

[0030] In this application, the terminal device may determine a plurality of second switching delays, each of which corresponds to two different frequency band groups. For example, the terminal device may determine a kth second switching delay, where the kth second switching delay is a delay for switching between the third frequency band group and the fourth frequency band group. In another example, the terminal device may determine a pth second switching delay, where the pth second switching delay is a delay for switching between the fifth frequency band group and the sixth frequency band group.

[0031] Based on the above technical solution, in this application, the terminal device may report a second switching delay for switching between frequency band groups, and the second switching delay is a delay for the terminal device to switch between the first frequency band group and the second frequency band group. In other words, the terminal device may report a delay for switching between the frequency band groups, and the network device may determine a K2 delay so that the terminal device can effectively implement frequency band switching between the frequency band groups. In this way, the terminal device flexibly and effectively completes switching between multiple frequency bands, thereby ensuring data transmission performance.

[0032] In a possible implementation, the third information further includes at least a first frequency band group identifier and a second frequency band group identifier.

[0033] In this application, the first frequency band group identifier and the second frequency band group identifier may be pre-configured and transmitted by the network device to the terminal device.

[0034] Based on the above technical solution, in this application, a correspondence between a frequency band group identifier and a frequency band group is used, so that the frequency band groups can be distinguished from each other. In this way, the terminal device can report a second switching delay corresponding to the frequency band group identifier (this can also be understood as reporting the second switching delay by using the frequency band group as granularity). Compared with the existing approach in which the terminal device reports the switching delay by using each frequency band as granularity, in this embodiment, the signaling overhead can be greatly reduced.

[0035] In a possible implementation, the third information further includes a number of transmission radio frequency chains supported by the terminal device in the frequency bands comprised in the first frequency band group and in the second frequency band group, and the third information is used by the network device to determine scheduling of the uplink data.

[0036] Based on the above technical solution, in this application, the terminal device may further report the number of transmission radio frequency chains supported in different frequency bands, so that when scheduling uplink data, the network device may further determine the switching delay required to switch between frequency bands based on the ability of supporting the radio frequency chains by the terminal device, and schedule appropriate resources for the uplink data to the terminal device, which improves data transmission performance.

[0037] In a possible implementation, the second switching delay is an item of a second switching set, the second switching set including 140 microseconds, 210 microseconds, and 280 microseconds.

[0038] In this application, the values ​​in the second switch set can be greater than 35 microseconds and less than or equal to 1 millisecond. For example, the second switch set can include {140 microseconds, 210 microseconds, 280 microseconds}, or the second switch set can include {140 microseconds, 210 microseconds, 500 microseconds}, or the second switch set can include {140 microseconds, 280 microseconds, 400 microseconds, 500 microseconds, 1 millisecond}.

[0039] In this application, when a terminal device performs switching between two frequency band groups, if a serial switching method is used in the phase-locked loop, for example, the serial switching of the phase-locked loop is performed in 280 microseconds, in this case, the delay for switching by the terminal device between the two frequency band groups can be fully taken into account, and the network device can facilitate resource scheduling, which allows the terminal device to complete the switching more efficiently, thereby ensuring data transmission performance.

[0040] In a possible implementation, the frequency band group identification information includes X frequency band group identifiers, X being a positive integer, and the method further includes: the terminal device receives fourth information from the network device, where the fourth information indicates a target frequency band group identifier; and the terminal device performs frequency band switching between target frequency band groups corresponding to the target frequency band group identifiers based on the fourth information, where the target frequency band group identifiers are at least two of the X frequency band group identifiers.

[0041] Based on the aforementioned technical solutions, in this application, the network device further dynamically indicates the frequency band group to which the terminal device is to perform switching, so that the flexibility and real-time quality of performing switching between frequency band groups by the terminal device may be improved.

[0042] In a possible implementation, the third information further includes at least a j-th frequency band group switching identifier, where the j-th frequency band group switching identifier is an identifier of switching by the terminal device between the first frequency band group and the second frequency band group.

[0043] In this application, the terminal device may determine a plurality of second switching delays, each of which corresponds to a different frequency band group switching identifier. For example, the terminal device may determine a k-th second switching delay, and the k-th second switching delay may correspond to a k-th frequency band group switching identifier (switching between a third frequency band group and a fourth frequency band). In another example, the terminal device may determine a p-th second switching delay, and the p-th second switching delay may correspond to a p-th frequency band group switching identifier (switching between a fifth frequency band group and a sixth frequency band).

[0044] In this application, the frequency band group switching identifier may be pre-configured and transmitted by the network device to the terminal device.

[0045] Based on the above technical solution, in this application, frequency band groups are distinguished from each other, and the network device configures a frequency band group switching identifier, so that the terminal device can report a second switching delay corresponding to the frequency band group switching identifier (e.g., index) (this can also be understood as reporting the second switching delay by using the frequency band group switching as granularity). In this way, the signaling overhead can be further reduced.

[0046] In a possible implementation, the third information further includes a number of transmission radio frequency chains supported by the terminal device in frequency bands included in the first frequency band group and the second frequency band group identified by the jth frequency band group switching identifier, and the third information is used by the network device to determine scheduling of uplink data for transmission.

[0047] Based on the above technical solution, in this application, the terminal device may further report the number of transmission radio frequency chains supported in different frequency bands, so that when scheduling uplink data, the network device may further determine the switching delay required to switch between frequency bands based on the ability of supporting the radio frequency chains by the terminal device, and schedule appropriate resources for the uplink data to the terminal device, which improves data transmission performance.

[0048] In a possible implementation, the second switch delay is an item of a third switch set, the third switch set including 0 microseconds, 35 microseconds, 140 microseconds, 210 microseconds, and 280 microseconds.

[0049] In this application, the third switching set is designed considering various scenarios, in which the phase-locked loop may use a serial switching method, a partial serial switching method, and a parallel switching method, and the phase-locked loop is pre-locked to the frequency band to be switched when the terminal device performs switching between two frequency band groups. In this case, the delay for switching by the terminal device between the two frequency band groups can be fully taken into account in this case, facilitating resource scheduling by the network device. This allows the terminal device to complete the switching more efficiently, thereby ensuring data transmission performance.

[0050] In a possible implementation, the frequency band group switch identifier includes Y frequency band group switch identifiers, Y being a positive integer, and the method further includes: the terminal device receives fifth information from the network device, where the fifth information indicates a target frequency band group switch identifier; and the terminal device performs frequency band switching between target frequency band groups corresponding to the target frequency band group switch identifier based on the fifth information, where the target frequency band group switch identifier is one or more of the Y frequency band group switch identifiers.

[0051] Based on the aforementioned technical solutions, in this application, the network device further dynamically indicates the frequency band group to which the terminal device is to perform switching, so that the flexibility and real-time quality of performing switching between frequency band groups by the terminal device may be improved.

[0052] According to a third aspect, there is provided a communication method, the method may be implemented by a terminal device (e.g., user equipment) or a component (e.g., a chip or a circuit) of the terminal device, without being limited thereto.

[0053] The method includes: the terminal device determining a third switching delay, the third switching delay being a delay for switching by the terminal device from a first state to a second state, the first state being a state in which the terminal device supports a first number of transmission radio frequency chains in a frequency band in a seventh frequency band group, and the second state being a state in which the terminal device supports a second number of transmission radio frequency chains in a frequency band in an eighth frequency band group, the seventh frequency band group and the eighth frequency band group each including at least one frequency band; and the terminal device transmitting sixth information to the network device, the sixth information including the third switching delay.

[0054] In this application, the seventh frequency band group and the eighth frequency band may each include at least one frequency band. For example, the method may also be understood as follows: the terminal device determines a third switching delay, where the third switching delay is a delay for switching from a first state to a second state by the terminal device, where the first state is a state in which the terminal device supports a first number of transmission radio frequency chains in at least one a-th frequency band, and the second state is a state in which the terminal device supports a second number of transmission radio frequency chains in at least one b-th frequency band, and the terminal device transmits sixth information to the network device, where the sixth information includes the third switching delay.

[0055] In this application, the a-th frequency band and the b-th frequency band are different, or at least one a-th frequency band and at least one b-th frequency band are completely different, or at least one a-th frequency band and at least one b-th frequency band are incompletely the same. In other words, it can also be understood that at least one a-th frequency band and at least one b-th frequency band can have a common frequency band. Details will not be described again below.

[0056] In a possible implementation, the third switching delay is an item of a fourth switching set, the values ​​in the fourth switching set being greater than or equal to 0 ms and less than or equal to 1 ms. Alternatively, the values ​​in the fourth switching set may be greater than or equal to the duration of three slots or greater than or equal to the duration of four slots.

[0057] In a possible implementation, the third switching delay is 280 microseconds.

[0058] In a possible implementation, the third switch delay is an item of a fourth switch set, the fourth switch set including at least 0 microseconds, 35 microseconds, 140 microseconds, 210 microseconds, and 280 microseconds.

[0059] In a possible implementation, the third switching delay is used by the network device to determine the scheduling of the uplink data.

[0060] In a possible implementation, the sixth information further includes a seventh frequency band group identifier and an eighth frequency band group identifier.

[0061] In a possible implementation, the sixth information further includes a number of transmission radio frequency chains supported by the terminal device in a frequency band in the seventh frequency band group and a number of transmission radio frequency chains supported by the terminal device in a frequency band in the eighth frequency band group.

[0062] Based on the above technical solution, in this application, the terminal device may report a third switching delay for switching between states. The third switching delay may be a typical value. The network device may determine scheduling of uplink data for the terminal device based on the third switching delay, so that the terminal device can effectively perform frequency band switching between states. That is, the terminal device can flexibly and effectively switch between multiple frequency bands, thereby ensuring data transmission performance.

[0063] According to a fourth aspect, there is provided a communication method, which may be implemented by a network device (e.g., a base station) or a component (e.g., a chip or a circuit) of the network device, without being limited thereto.

[0064] For the beneficial effects corresponding to the technical solution on the network side and the beneficial effects corresponding to the device, please refer to the description of the beneficial effects on the terminal side, and the details will not be described again here.

[0065] The method includes: the network device receiving first information from the terminal device, the first information including first switching delays of N frequency band groups, the N frequency band groups including an i-th frequency band group, the first switching delays of the N frequency band groups including an i-th first switching delay, the i-th first switching delay being a delay for switching by the terminal device between at least two different frequency bands included in the i-th frequency band group, where N is a positive integer; and the network device determining scheduling of uplink data based on the first information.

[0066] In a possible implementation, the first information further includes an i-th frequency band group identifier, where the i-th frequency band group identifier is any one of the N frequency band group identifiers, and the N frequency band group identifiers correspond one-to-one to the switching delays of the N frequency band groups.

[0067] In a possible implementation, the network device transmits frequency band group identification information to the terminal device, where the frequency band group identification information includes N frequency band group identifiers.

[0068] In a possible implementation, the first information further includes a number of transmission radio frequency chains supported by the terminal device in at least two different frequency bands.

[0069] In a possible implementation, the first switch delay is an item of a first switch set, the first switch set including 0 microseconds and 35 microseconds.

[0070] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: the network device sending second information to the terminal device, where the second information indicates a target frequency band group identifier, the target frequency band group identifier indicating to the terminal device to perform frequency band switching within a target frequency band group corresponding to the target frequency band group identifier, the target frequency band group identifier being one or more of the N frequency band group identifiers.

[0071] According to a fifth aspect, there is provided a communication method, which may be implemented by a network device (e.g., a base station) or a component (e.g., a chip or a circuit) of the network device, without being limited thereto.

[0072] The method includes: the network device receiving third information from the terminal device, the third information including at least a jth second switching delay, the jth second switching delay being a delay for switching by the terminal device between the first frequency band group and the second frequency band group, the jth second switching delay being one of M second switching delays, each of the first frequency band group and the second frequency band group including at least one frequency band, and M being a positive integer; and the terminal device determining scheduling of uplink data based on the third information.

[0073] In a possible implementation, the third information further includes at least a first frequency band group identifier and a second frequency band group identifier.

[0074] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: the network device transmitting frequency band group identification information to the network device, where the frequency band group identification information includes at least the first frequency band group identifier and the second frequency band group identifier.

[0075] In a possible implementation, the third information further includes a number of transmission radio frequency chains supported by the terminal device in the frequency bands included in the first frequency band group and in the second frequency band group.

[0076] In a possible implementation, the second switching delay is an item of a second switching set, the second switching set including 140 microseconds, 210 microseconds, and 280 microseconds.

[0077] In a possible implementation, the frequency band group identification information includes X frequency band group identifiers, X is a positive integer, and the method further includes: the network device sending fourth information to the terminal device, where the fourth information indicates a target frequency band group identifier, the target frequency band group identifier is used to perform frequency band switching between the target frequency band groups corresponding to the target frequency band group identifier, and the target frequency band group identifier is at least two of the X frequency band group identifiers.

[0078] In a possible implementation, the third information further includes at least a j-th frequency band group switching identifier, where the j-th frequency band group switching identifier is an identifier for switching between the first frequency band group and the second frequency band group by the terminal device.

[0079] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: the network device sending frequency band group switching identification information to the terminal device, where the frequency band group switching identification information includes at least the j-th frequency band group switching identifier.

[0080] In a possible implementation, the third information further includes a number of transmission radio frequency chains supported by the terminal device in frequency bands included in the first frequency band group and the second frequency band group identified by the jth frequency band group switching identifier.

[0081] In a possible implementation, the second switch delay is an item of a third switch set, the third switch set including 0 microseconds, 35 microseconds, 140 microseconds, 210 microseconds, and 280 microseconds.

[0082] In a possible implementation, the frequency band group switch identifier includes Y frequency band group switch identifiers, Y being a positive integer, and the method further includes: the network device sending fifth information to the terminal device, where the fifth information indicates a target frequency band group switch identifier, the target frequency band group switch identifier indicates to the terminal device to perform frequency band switching between the target frequency band groups corresponding to the target frequency band group switch identifier, and the target frequency band group switch identifier is one or more of the Y frequency band group switch identifiers.

[0083] According to a sixth aspect, there is provided a communication method, which may be implemented by a network device (e.g., a base station) or a component (e.g., a chip or a circuit) of the network device, without being limited thereto.

[0084] The method includes: the network device receiving sixth information from the terminal device, the sixth information including a third switching delay, the third switching delay being a delay for switching by the terminal device from a first state to a second state, the first state being a state in which the terminal device supports a first number of transmission radio frequency chains in a frequency band in a seventh frequency band group, and the second state being a state in which the terminal device supports a second number of transmission radio frequency chains in a frequency band in an eighth frequency band group, the seventh frequency band group and the eighth frequency band group each including at least one frequency band; and the terminal device transmitting sixth information to the network device, the sixth information including the third switching delay.

[0085] In this application, the seventh frequency band group and the eighth frequency band may each include at least one frequency band. For example, the method can also be understood as follows: the network device receives sixth information, the sixth information including a third switching delay, the third switching delay being a delay for switching from a first state to a second state by the terminal device, the first state being a state in which the terminal device supports a first number of transmission radio frequency chains in at least one a-th frequency band, and the second state being a state in which the terminal device supports a second number of transmission radio frequency chains in at least one b-th frequency band; and the terminal device transmits sixth information to the network device, the sixth information including the third switching delay.

[0086] In a possible implementation, the third switching delay is 280 microseconds.

[0087] In a possible implementation, the third switch delay is an item of a fourth switch set, the fourth switch set including at least 0 microseconds, 35 microseconds, 140 microseconds, 210 microseconds, and 280 microseconds.

[0088] In a possible implementation, the third switching delay is used by the network device to determine the scheduling of the uplink data.

[0089] In a possible implementation, the third switching delay is an item of a fourth switching set, and the values ​​in the fourth switching set are greater than or equal to 0 ms and less than or equal to 1 ms. Alternatively, the values ​​in the fourth switching set may be greater than or equal to the duration of three slots or greater than or equal to the duration of four slots.

[0090] In a possible implementation, the sixth information further includes a seventh frequency band group identifier and an eighth frequency band group identifier.

[0091] In a possible implementation, the sixth information further includes a number of transmission radio frequency chains supported by the terminal device in a frequency band in the seventh frequency band group and a number of transmission radio frequency chains supported by the terminal device in a frequency band in the eighth frequency band group.

[0092] According to a seventh aspect, a communication device is provided. The device is configured to perform a method according to any one of the possible implementations of the first to third aspects. In particular, the device may include a unit and / or module (e.g. a transceiver unit and / or a processing unit) configured to perform a method according to any one of the possible implementations of the first to third aspects.

[0093] In an implementation, the device is a terminal device. When the device is a communication device, the communication unit may be a transceiver or an input / output interface, and the processing unit may be at least one processor. Optionally, the transceiver may be a transceiver circuit. Optionally, the input / output interface may be an input / output circuit.

[0094] In another implementation, the apparatus is a chip, a chip system, or a circuit used in a terminal device. When the apparatus is a chip, a chip system, or a circuit used in a communication device, the communication unit may be an input / output interface, an interface circuit, an output circuit, an input circuit, a pin, or an associated circuit of the chip, chip system, or circuit, and the processing unit may be at least one processor, a processing circuit, a logic circuit, or the like.

[0095] According to an eighth aspect, a communication device is provided. The device is configured to perform a method according to any one of the possible implementations of the fourth to sixth aspects. In particular, the device may include a unit and / or module (e.g. a transceiver unit and / or a processing unit) configured to perform a method according to any one of the possible implementations of the fourth to sixth aspects.

[0096] In an implementation, the device is a network device. When the device is a communication device, the communication unit may be a transceiver or an input / output interface, and the processing unit may be at least one processor. Optionally, the transceiver may be a transceiver circuit. Optionally, the input / output interface may be an input / output circuit.

[0097] In another implementation, the apparatus is a chip, a chip system, or a circuit used in a network device. When the apparatus is a chip, a chip system, or a circuit used in a communication device, the communication unit may be an input / output interface, an interface circuit, an output circuit, an input circuit, a pin, or an associated circuit of the chip, chip system, or circuit, and the processing unit may be at least one processor, processing circuit, logic circuit, or the like.

[0098] According to a ninth aspect, there is provided a communication device. The device includes at least one processor configured to execute a computer program or instructions stored in a memory to perform a method according to any possible implementation of any one of the first to third aspects. Optionally, the device further includes a memory configured to store the computer program or instructions. Optionally, the device further includes a communication interface, and the processor reads the computer program or instructions stored in the memory via the communication interface.

[0099] In an implementation, the apparatus is a terminal device.

[0100] In another implementation, the apparatus is a chip, a chip system, or a circuit used in a terminal device.

[0101] According to a tenth aspect, a communication device is provided. The device includes at least one processor configured to execute a computer program or instructions stored in a memory to perform a method according to any one of the possible implementations of any one of the fourth to sixth aspects. Optionally, the device further includes a memory configured to store the computer program or instructions. Optionally, the device further includes a communication interface, and the processor reads the computer program or instructions stored in the memory via the communication interface.

[0102] In an implementation, the apparatus is a network device.

[0103] In another implementation, the apparatus is a chip, a chip system, or a circuit used in a network device.

[0104] According to a tenth aspect, the application provides a processor including an input circuit, an output circuit, and a processing circuit, the processing circuit configured to receive a signal via the input circuit and transmit a signal via the output circuit, whereby the processor performs a method according to any possible implementation of any one of the first to sixth aspects.

[0105] In a specific implementation process, the processor may be one or more chips, the input circuit may be an input pin, the output circuit may be an output pin, and the processing circuit may be a transistor, a gate circuit, a trigger, or any logic circuit, etc. The input signal received through the input circuit may be, for example, but not limited to, received and input by a transceiver. The signal output through the output circuit may be, for example, but not limited to, output to a transmitter and transmitted by the transmitter. The input circuit and the output circuit may be one circuit, which functions as an input circuit and an output circuit at different times. The specific implementation of the processor and the circuit is not limited in this embodiment of this application.

[0106] Transmitting, acquiring / receiving, and other operations associated with a processor may be understood as outputting, receiving, inputting, and other operations performed by the processor, or may be understood as transmitting, receiving, and other operations performed by radio frequency circuits and antennas, unless otherwise specified or inconsistent with the actual functionality or internal logic of the operations in the associated description, which is not limited in this application.

[0107] According to an eleventh aspect, there is provided a processing device including a processor and a memory, the processor configured to read instructions stored in the memory, receive signals via a transceiver, and transmit signals via a transmitter, to perform a method according to any possible implementation of any one of the first to sixth aspects.

[0108] Optionally, there are one or more processors and one or more memories.

[0109] Optionally, the memory may be integral with the processor, or the memory and the processor may be located separately.

[0110] In a specific implementation process, the memory may be a non-transitory memory, such as a read-only memory (ROM). The memory and the processor may be integrated into one chip or may be located as separate chips. The type of memory and the manner in which the memory and the processor are located are not limited in this embodiment of the application.

[0111] It should be understood that the associated data exchange process, such as transmitting the indication information, may be a process of outputting the indication information from a processor, and receiving the capability information may be a process of receiving input capability information by a processor. In particular, data output by a processor may be output to a transmitter, and input data received by a processor may come from a transceiver. The transmitter and transceiver may be collectively referred to as a transceiver.

[0112] The processing device of the eleventh aspect may be one or more chips. The processor of the processing device may be implemented using hardware or software. When the processor is implemented using hardware, the processor may be a logic circuit, an integrated circuit, or the like. When the processor is implemented using software, the processor may be a general-purpose processor and is implemented by reading software code stored in a memory. The memory may be integrated into the processor or may be located outside the processor and exist independently.

[0113] According to a twelfth aspect, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium storing program code to be executed by a device, the program code including instructions used to implement a method according to any one of the possible implementations of the first to sixth aspects.

[0114] According to a thirteenth aspect there is provided a computer program product comprising instructions which, when run on a computer, enable the computer to carry out a method according to any one of the possible implementations of the first to sixth aspects.

[0115] According to a fourteenth aspect, there is provided a chip system, the chip system including a processor configured to call a computer program from a memory and run the computer program, such that a device in which the chip system is installed performs a method according to any one of the implementations of the first to sixth aspects.

[0116] According to a fourteenth aspect, there is provided a communication system, comprising a terminal device and a network device, the terminal device configured to perform a method according to any possible implementation of any one of the first to third aspects, and the network device configured to perform a method according to any possible implementation of any one of the fourth to sixth aspects. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0117] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram of an application scenario according to an embodiment of the present application. [Diagram 2] 2 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method 200 according to the present application. [Diagram 3] 3 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method 300 according to the present application. [Figure 4] 6 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method 600 according to the present application. [Diagram 5]1 is a block diagram of a communication device 100 according to the present application. [Figure 6] 2 is a block diagram of a communication device 200 according to the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0118] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0119] Wireless communication systems to which embodiments of this application may be applied include, but are not limited to, global system for mobile communications (GSM), long term evolution (LTE) frequency division duplex (FDD) systems, LTE time division duplex (TDD) systems, LTE systems, long term evolution (LTE-Advanced, LTE-A) advanced systems, next generation communication systems (e.g., 6G communication systems), systems incorporating multiple access systems, or evolved systems.

[0120] The technical solutions provided in this application may also be applied to machine type communication (MTC), long term evolution-machine (LTE-M), device-to-device (D2D) networks, machine-to-machine (M2M) networks, internet of things (IoT) networks, or other networks. IoT networks may include, for example, internet of vehicles. The communication modes in internet of things (IoT) systems are collectively referred to as vehicle to X (V2X, where X stands for anything). For example, V2X may include vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications, vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications, vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) communications, or vehicle-to-network (V2N) communications, etc.

[0121] The terminal device of the embodiment of this application may include various access terminals, mobile devices, user terminals, or user equipment having wireless communication capabilities. For example, the terminal device may be user equipment (UE), such as a mobile phone, a tablet computer (pad), a computer having wireless transmission and reception capabilities, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, or an augmented reality (AR) terminal device. Alternatively, the terminal device may be a wireless terminal in industrial control, a machine type communication (MTC) terminal, a customer premises equipment (CPE), a wireless terminal in self-driving, a wireless terminal for telemedicine (remote medical) applications, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in a smart city, a smart home, a cellular phone, a cordless telephone set, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld device with wireless communication capabilities, a computing device, another processing device connected to a wireless modem, an in-vehicle device, a wearable device, a terminal device in a 5G network, or a terminal device in a future evolved public land mobile network (PLMN), etc.

[0122] A network device (e.g., a radio access network device) in an embodiment of this application may be an access device in a mobile communication system to which a terminal device is wirelessly connected. The radio access network device may be a base station, an evolved base station (eNB), or a home NodeB, or an access point (AP), a radio relay node, a radio backhaul node, a transmission point (TP), or a transmission and reception point (TRP) in a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) system, or a macro base station, a micro base station, or a radio frequency base station, etc. Alternatively, the radio access network device may be a next generation NodeB (gNB) in an NR system, or may be a component or some devices constituting a base station, such as a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), or a baseband unit (BBU). It should be understood that the specific technology and the specific device form used by the radio access network device are not limited in the embodiments of this application. In this application, radio access network devices are referred to as network devices for short. Unless otherwise specified, in this application, all network devices are radio access network devices. In this application, a network device may be the network device itself or a chip used in a network device to complete wireless communication processing functions.

[0123] It should be understood that the scenario shown in Fig. 1 is only an exemplary scenario used in the technical solution of this application. In this application, the terminal device may also need to switch between multiple frequency bands in other scenarios. In other words, the technical solution of this application can be applied to various scenarios in which the terminal device needs to switch between multiple frequency bands.

[0124] In a 5G new radio (NR) system, a network device (e.g., a base station) may transmit radio waves at high transmission power over a fairly long distance. However, the transmission power of a terminal device is low and the uplink coverage is limited. As a result, when the uplink transmission signal reaches the network device, it may not have sufficient received signal strength to ensure the coverage performance of the terminal device. In addition, there may be a shortage of uplink spectrum. Therefore, it is impossible to ensure the uplink coverage performance of the terminal device by data retransmission.

[0125] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a scenario in which the technical solution of this application is applicable. As shown in FIG. 1, currently, a supplementary uplink (SUL) is used in NR as a substitute when the uplink coverage of the NR system is insufficient. Since the low frequency band of long term evolution (LTE) usually has better coverage performance, it is considered that the carrier of the low frequency band of LTE (e.g., 700 MHz, 1.8 GHz, or 2.1 GHz) is used for NR uplink transmission in SUL. Currently, it is determined that when NR transmission is performed using the frequency band of LTE, a terminal device may reuse the frequency band by LTE uplink time division duplex (TDD). In particular, when the terminal device is within the coverage area of ​​the TDD medium frequency band (2.6 GHz, 3.5 GHz, or 4.9 GHz), the terminal device uses the TDD medium frequency band. When the terminal device moves out of the coverage area of ​​the TDD mid-frequency band (2.6 GHz, 3.5 GHz, or 4.9 GHz), the terminal device may use the LTE low-frequency band for uplink, which supplements the uplink coverage of the TDD mid-frequency band and extends the uplink coverage area. Of course, with future evolution, the terminal device may alternatively use another frequency band for uplink as a supplementary uplink to further extend the coverage area of ​​the uplink.

[0126] It may also be understood that when a terminal device transmits uplink data in an NR frequency band (e.g., 2.6 GHz), a carrier in a lower frequency band of LTE (e.g., 700 MHz / 800 MHz / 900 MHz, 1.8 GHz, or 2.1 GHz) may be used for NR uplink transmission. The carrier may be understood as an SUL frequency band. In other words, in an SUL scenario, the terminal device is expected to dynamically switch between multiple frequency bands, such as 700 MHz / 800 MHz / 900 MHz, 1.8 GHz, 2.1 GHz, 3.5 GHz, or 4.9 GHz, based on the channel or load conditions of the corresponding frequency bands.

[0127] In order to facilitate understanding of the technical solutions of this application, the following provides a brief explanation of some technical terms used in this application.

[0128] Phase-locked loop (PLL) switching delay: Generally, it takes about 300 microseconds for a phase-locked loop to relock to a frequency band. Specifically, when a phase-locked loop corresponding to a frequency band is disabled, the phase-locked loop is relocked to another frequency band, or a new phase-locked loop is enabled, such a switching delay is required.

[0129] Transmission channel (transmitter,T X) may be referred to as a "radio frequency (RF) transmission channel", which may be abbreviated as "transmission channel". In this application, the transmission channel may operate as follows, but is not limited to: it receives a baseband signal from a baseband chip, performs radio frequency processing (such as up-conversion, amplification and filtering) on ​​the baseband signal to obtain a radio frequency signal, and finally radiates the radio frequency signal into space using an antenna. For example, the transmission channel may include electronic components such as an antenna switch, an antenna tuner, a low noise amplifier (LNA), a power amplifier (PA), a mixer, a local oscillator (LO), and a filter. These electronic components may be integrated into one or more chips as needed. The antenna may sometimes be considered as part of the transmission channel.

[0130] The "channel" referred to in the following embodiments of this application can also be understood as a "radio frequency chain." A radio frequency chain in this application is X , antennas, radio frequencies, transmission channels, transmission ports, receiving channels, or any combination thereof, the details of which will not be described again below.

[0131] It should be understood that the "frequency band" (band) referred to in the embodiments of this application can also be understood as a "band", "frequency" and "spectrum". The "frequency band" in this application can also be understood as a component carrier (CC) (sometimes referred to as "carrier" for short). That is, the technical solutions of this application are also fully applicable to "carriers". The "frequency band" is mainly used as an example for the description of the following embodiments of this application.

[0132] In this application, a transmission radio frequency chain can also be understood as a radio frequency chain that is used or can be used for transmission or transmission. Correspondingly, the number of transmission radio frequency chains can also be understood as the number of radio frequency chains that are used or can be used for transmission or transmission. The number of transmission radio frequency chains can also be understood as the "number of layers", the "number of antenna layers", or the "number of channels".

[0133] The "switching" (switching) referred to in the embodiment of this application can also be understood as "switchover". The "switching delay" referred to in the embodiment of this application can also be understood as "carrier switching delay", "carrier switchover delay", "carrier switching period (period or interval)", or "switching gap". The "switching delay" referred to in the embodiment of this application can also be called "switching time in carrier switching preparation time" or "switching time during switching preparation progress". Correspondingly, when performing uplink scheduling, the network device performs a corresponding scheduling process based on the switching delay. Specifically, the scheduling process can be understood as setting N2 (N2 can be understood as uplink processing delay or uplink preparation delay). Details will not be described again below.

[0134] At present, a terminal device has two phase-locked loops and can dynamically switch between two frequency bands. However, considering the cost and hardware complexity of the terminal device, only a few phase-locked loops are configured in the terminal device. It can also be understood that the number of phase-locked loops in the terminal device is basically unchanged, but the terminal device may need to switch between multiple frequency bands. In other words, when the terminal device needs to switch between multiple frequency bands, the switching delay of the phase-locked loop is long. As a result, the flexibility of the terminal device to switch between multiple frequency bands is limited, and the data transmission performance is affected. Therefore, when the number of phase-locked loops in the terminal device does not match the number of frequency bands, how the terminal device can flexibly and effectively switch between multiple frequency bands to ensure data transmission performance becomes a technical problem to be solved.

[0135] In view of this, this application provides a communication method and apparatus. A terminal device may report a first switching delay of N frequency band groups. Here, the first switching delay is a delay for the terminal device to switch between at least two different frequency bands included in the frequency band group. In other words, the terminal device reports a delay for switching within the frequency band group so that the terminal device can effectively perform frequency band switching within the frequency band group. That is, the terminal device can flexibly and effectively switch between multiple frequency bands, thereby ensuring data transmission performance.

[0136] Figure 2 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method 200 according to this application. In the following, the steps shown in Figure 2 are described. Please note that the steps represented by dashed lines in Figure 2 are optional, which will not be repeated below.

[0137] Step 201: A terminal device determines first switching delays of N frequency band groups (N is a positive integer).

[0138] The N frequency band groups include an i-th frequency band group, and the first switching delays of the N frequency band groups include an i-th first switching delay, where in this application the i-th first switching delay is a delay for switching by a terminal device between at least two different frequency bands included in the i-th frequency band group.

[0139] A "frequency band group" referred to in this application may be understood as a "frequency band set." A "frequency band" may be replaced with a "carrier," "band," or "carrier within a frequency band." A "frequency band group" may be replaced with a "carrier group" or "carrier set." "Within a frequency band" may be understood as "on a carrier within a frequency band."

[0140] In this application, the frequency bands included in frequency band group #1 (e.g., the first frequency band group) and the frequency bands included in frequency band group #2 (e.g., the second frequency band group) may be completely different frequency bands. Alternatively, the frequency bands included in frequency band group #1 and the frequency bands included in frequency band group #2 may have an intersection set. In other words, in this application, the frequency bands of frequency band group #1 and the frequency bands of frequency band group #2 are incompletely the same. That is, the two groups may have the same frequency bands or different frequency bands.

[0141] In this application, a frequency band group may include at least one frequency band.

[0142] It should be understood that in this application, all of the N frequency band groups may be pre-configured by the network device. For example, the network device may perform the pre-configuration as follows: Frequency band group #1 may include {frequency band #A, frequency band #B}, frequency band group #2 may include {frequency band #A, frequency band #C}, frequency band group #3 may include {frequency band #A, frequency band #B, and frequency band #C}, etc.

[0143] For example, frequency band #A may be 3.5 GHz, frequency band #B may be 2.1 GHz, frequency band #C may be 1.8 GHz, frequency band #D may be 700 MHz / 800 MHz / 900 MHz, etc.

[0144] When the "frequency band" in this application is understood as a "carrier", for example, frequency band #A supports three carriers, i.e., carrier #1, carrier #2, and carrier #3, frequency band #B supports four carriers, i.e., carrier #4, carrier #5, carrier #6, and carrier #7, frequency band #C supports two carriers, i.e., carrier #8 and carrier #9, and frequency band #D supports two carriers, i.e., carrier #10 and carrier #11. "Frequency band group #1 includes {frequency band #A, frequency band #B}" may mean that carrier group #1 includes carrier #1 and carrier #6. "Frequency band group #2 may include {frequency band #A, frequency band #C}" may mean that carrier group #2 includes carrier #8 and carrier #3.

[0145] In this application, the following switching of frequency band groups can also be understood as, for example, switching between carrier #1 and carrier #6 of carrier group #1, or in another example, switching between carrier #3 and carrier #8 of carrier group #2. The following switching between frequency band groups (e.g., switching between frequency band group #1 and frequency band group #2) can also be understood as switching between carrier groups (e.g., switching between carrier group #1 and carrier group #2).

[0146] In a possible implementation, the network device may semi-statically configure the frequency band group. For example, the network device may configure the frequency band group of the terminal device once every five slots. For example, the terminal device may pre-lock a phase-locked loop to a corresponding frequency band within five slots.

[0147] In a possible implementation, in this application, each of the N frequency band groups may correspond to one first switching delay. In another implementation, some of the N frequency band groups may correspond to the same first switching delay. It can be understood that when determining the first switching delays corresponding to the N frequency band groups, the terminal device may select a first switching delay for each frequency band group, or may select the same switching delay for some frequency band groups. In other words, the specific internal implementation of the terminal device is not limited in this application.

[0148] In step 201, "the terminal device determines the first switching delays of the N frequency band groups" can be understood as follows. For example, the first switching set may be preconfigured in the terminal device (or "predefined in the protocol"), and the first switching set includes different first switching delays. The terminal device may select corresponding first switching delays for the N frequency band groups from the first switching set. For example, the value in the first switching set may be less than or equal to 35 microseconds. For example, the first switching set may include {0 microseconds, 30 microseconds, 35 microseconds}, or the first switching set may include {0 microseconds, 35 microseconds}, or the first switching set may include {0 microseconds, 15 microseconds, 20 microseconds, 35 microseconds}.

[0149] In this application, it is assumed that the terminal device has two phase-locked loops. When the terminal device switches between frequency band #A and frequency band #B in the frequency band group, the following scenarios are considered. It is assumed that phase-locked loop #1 is locked to frequency band #A, and phase-locked loop #2 can be pre-locked to frequency band #B, and frequency band #A is on channel #1 and frequency band #B is on channel #2 (it can also be understood that frequency band #A and frequency band #B are on different channels). In this case, since the phase-locked loop is also pre-locked to frequency band #B, the terminal device can seamlessly switch between frequency band #A and frequency band #B in the frequency band group, i.e., the switching delay is 0 microseconds. In other words, based on the above scenario, this application further proposes that 0 microseconds are required for switching between two different frequency bands in the frequency band group. In this way, the delay for switching between the two frequency bands by the terminal device can be greatly reduced, and the switching can be completed more efficiently. This ensures data transmission performance. If both frequency band #A and frequency band #B can be in channel #1, then in this case the phase-locked loop is also pre-locked to frequency band #B, so that when the terminal device switches between frequency band #A and frequency band #B in the frequency band group, only a delay is required for switching between the frequency bands of the channel (e.g., frequency band #A is previously in channel #1, and the frequency band of channel #1 needs to be switched to frequency band #B, and only a switch between the frequency bands ("frequencies") of that channel is required) (i.e., channel switching delay). The switching delay is 35 microseconds.

[0150] In this application, step 201 is optional, i.e., the terminal device may not perform step 201. In this case, it can also be understood that the "determining" operation does not need to be performed in the internal implementation of the terminal device, and step 202 is immediately performed.

[0151] Step 202: The terminal device sends first information to the network device, where the first information includes first switching delays of the N frequency band groups.

[0152] In response, the network device may receive the first information and determine a scheduling of the uplink data based on the first information.

[0153] For example, the terminal device may report first capability information (an example of first information) to the network device, where the capability information includes first switching delays corresponding to the N frequency band groups.

[0154] In an example, the terminal device reports first capability information, where the first capability information includes that the first switching delay is 0 seconds. In this case, the first switching delay being 0 microseconds can be understood as follows. For example, the switching delay for the terminal device to switch between different frequency bands in the N frequency band groups may be 0 microseconds, the delays for the terminal device to switch between different frequency bands included in the first X1 frequency band groups of the N frequency band groups are all 0 microseconds, or the delays for the terminal device to switch between different frequency bands included in the last Y1 frequency band groups of the N frequency band groups are all 0 microseconds. The values ​​of X1 and Y1 may be predefined in a protocol or preconfigured by a network device. This is not limited.

[0155] In another example, the terminal device reports first capability information, where the first capability information includes that the first switching delay is 0 seconds and 35 microseconds. For example, it can be understood as follows: The delays for switching by the terminal device between different frequency bands in the first X2 frequency band groups of the N frequency band groups are all 0 microseconds, or the delays for switching by the terminal device between different frequency bands in the last Y2 frequency band groups of the N frequency band groups are 35 microseconds. The values ​​of X2 and Y2 may be predefined in the protocol or preconfigured by the network device. This is not limited.

[0156] In an implementation, the first information may further include a number of transmission radio frequency chains supported by the terminal device in at least two different frequency bands, where the first capability information is used by the network device to determine scheduling of uplink data.

[0157] In one example, the first information transmitted by the terminal device may include data of radio frequency chains supported in frequency band #A and the number of radio frequency chains supported in frequency band #B in frequency band group #1 {frequency band #A, frequency band #B}. For example, frequency band #A supports two radio frequency chains, and frequency band #B supports two radio frequency chains. In another example, frequency band #A supports two radio frequency chains, and frequency band #B supports one radio frequency chain. In yet another example, frequency band #A supports one radio frequency chain, and frequency band #B supports one radio frequency chain. The network device may determine to schedule data to the terminal device based on a first switching delay of the frequency band group and / or the number of radio frequency chains supported in the frequency bands in the frequency band group. Here, the first switching delay and the number of radio frequency chains are reported by the terminal device.

[0158] Before step 202, step 203 may be further included: the terminal device receives frequency band group identification information from the network device, where the frequency band group identification information includes N frequency band group identifiers.

[0159] In a possible implementation, in this application, the frequency band group identifier may also be predefined or preconfigured in the protocol.

[0160] In response, the network device transmits the frequency band group identification information to the terminal device, for example, the network device may transmit the frequency band group identification information to the terminal device using radio resource control (RRC) signaling or media access control (MAC) signaling.

[0161] The order between step 201 and step 203 may not be limited. For example, the terminal device may receive frequency band group identification information from the network device after determining the first switching delays of the N frequency band groups. In another example, the terminal device may first receive frequency band group identification information from the network device and then determine the first switching delays of the N frequency band groups. In yet another example, the terminal device may receive frequency band group identification information from the network device while determining the first switching delays of the N frequency band groups. This is not limited in this application.

[0162] For example, in this application, the network device may configure N frequency band group identifiers for the terminal device, and the N frequency band group identifiers may correspond one-to-one with the N frequency band groups. Furthermore, in this case, the N frequency band group identifiers may correspond one-to-one with the switching delays of the N frequency band groups.

[0163] For example, the terminal device receives frequency band group identification information from the network device, and the frequency band group identification information includes a frequency band group identifier #1 (e.g., group #1), a frequency band group identifier #2 (e.g., group #2), and a frequency band group identifier #3 (e.g., group #3), etc. For example, the frequency band group identified by group #1 is {frequency band #A, frequency band #D}. In another example, the frequency band group identified by group #2 is {frequency band #B, frequency band #D}. In yet another example, the frequency band group identified by group #3 is {frequency band #C, frequency band #D}.

[0164] In this case, the first information transmitted by the terminal device in step 202 may further include an i-th frequency band group identifier, where the i-th frequency band group identifier is any one of the N frequency band group identifiers.

[0165] In an example, the terminal device reports first capability information, where the first capability information includes {frequency band group identifier #1, first switching delay of 0 microseconds}, {frequency band group identifier #2, first switching delay of 35 microseconds}, and {frequency band group identifier #3, first switching delay of 30 microseconds}, etc.

[0166] Step 204: The terminal device receives second information from the network device, where the second information indicates a target frequency band group identifier.

[0167] In response, the network device may transmit second information to the terminal device, for example, the network device may indicate the target frequency band group identifier using downlink control information (DCI).

[0168] In this application, the target frequency band group identifier may be one or more of the N frequency band group identifiers. For example, the network device configures N frequency band group identifiers for the terminal device, and the target frequency band group identifiers may be frequency band group identifier #2, frequency band group identifier #5, and frequency band group identifier #6 of the N frequency band group identifiers.

[0169] Step 205: The terminal device performs frequency band switching within the target frequency band group corresponding to the target frequency band group identifier according to the second information.

[0170] For example, the terminal device may perform frequency band switching within the target frequency band group corresponding to the target frequency band group identifier based on the target frequency band group identifier indicated by the second information.

[0171] Step 206: The terminal device transmits uplink data using the target frequency band group.

[0172] It can also be understood that the network device schedules resources corresponding to the first switching delay to the terminal device based on the first switching delay reported by the terminal device, so that the terminal device can flexibly and effectively perform frequency band switching, thereby improving data transmission performance.

[0173] A "resource" in this application can be understood as a time domain resource, a frequency domain resource, a physical resource block, a resource block, etc., without being limited thereto.

[0174] 3 shows a communication method 300 according to the present application. The method 300 shows steps of a specific embodiment of the technical solution of the present application from the perspective of an interaction between a terminal device and a network device. The method 300 includes the following steps:

[0175] In this application, the network device may pre-configure the frequency band groups. For example, the network device may perform the pre-configuration as follows: Frequency band group #1 may include {frequency band #A, frequency band #B}, frequency band group #2 may include {frequency band #A, frequency band #C}, frequency band group #3 may include {frequency band #A, frequency band #B, frequency band #C}, etc.

[0176] In a possible implementation, the network device may perform semi-static configuration. For details, please refer to the description of the method 200. The details will not be described again here.

[0177] Step 301: A network device sends frequency band group identification information to a terminal device, where the frequency band group identification information includes N frequency band group identifiers.

[0178] In a possible implementation, in this application, the frequency band group identifiers may be predefined or preconfigured in the protocol.

[0179] In this application, for example, the N frequency band group identifiers may have a one-to-one correspondence with the N frequency band groups.

[0180] For example, a network device may transmit RRC signaling to a terminal device, where the RRC signaling includes N frequency band group identifiers. For example, frequency band group identifier #1 (e.g., group #1) identifies frequency band group #1 {frequency band #A, frequency band #B}, frequency band group identifier #2 (e.g., group #2) identifies frequency band group #2 {frequency band #A, frequency band #C}, frequency band group identifier #3 (e.g., group #3) identifies frequency band group #3 {frequency band #A, frequency band #B, frequency band #C}, etc.

[0181] Step 302: The terminal device receives frequency band group identification information from a network device, where it determines first switching delays of the N frequency band groups.

[0182] In this application, for example, the first switching delays of the N frequency band groups may correspond one-to-one with the N frequency band group identifiers.

[0183] For example, the terminal device may determine that the first switching delay corresponding to group #1 is 0 microseconds, the first switching delay corresponding to group #2 is 35 microseconds, etc. Specifically, the terminal device may select a corresponding switching delay for each frequency band group from the first switching set. For an explanation of the value of the "first switching set", please refer to the description of the method 200 for understanding. The details will not be described again here.

[0184] Please note that in this application, the value sets in the first switching set, the second switching set, the third switching set, and the fourth switching set are used as examples only. For example, the first switching set may be a set including 35 microseconds and 140 microseconds as alternatives. In another example, the first switching set may be a set including 0 microseconds, 35 microseconds, and 140 microseconds as alternatives. Correspondingly, the values ​​in the second switching set, the third switching set, and the fourth switching set in the following embodiments are also used as examples only, and each switching set may be a set including other values ​​as alternatives. In this application, the switching sets (e.g., the first switching delay set and the second switching delay set) may have intersection sets or may be completely different sets.

[0185] In addition, when determining the first switching delay corresponding to each frequency band group, the terminal device may further take into account the number of radio frequency chains supported in each frequency band. For example, frequency band #A supports two radio frequency chains ("radio frequency chain" is "T X "), frequency band #A supports two radio frequency chains, frequency band #B supports one radio frequency chain, and frequency band #C supports transmission by two radio frequency chains. Alternatively, frequency band #A supports two radio frequency chains, frequency band #B supports one radio frequency chain, and frequency band #C supports transmission by two radio frequency chains. Alternatively, frequency band #A supports one radio frequency chain, frequency band #B supports one radio frequency chain, and frequency band #C supports transmission by two radio frequency chains, etc. For example, details are listed in Table 1.

[0186] [Table 1]

[0187] For example, if a terminal device determines that the first switching delay for group #1 is 0 microseconds, it indicates that the switching delay required for the terminal device to switch between frequency band #A and frequency band #B (e.g., switching from two radio frequency chains supported in frequency band #A to two radio frequency chains supported in frequency band #B, or switching from two radio frequency chains supported in frequency band #B to two radio frequency chains supported in frequency band #A) is 0.

[0188] In another example, if a terminal device determines that the first switching delay for group #3 is 35 microseconds, and that frequency band #A supports two radio frequency chains, frequency band #B supports one radio frequency chain, and frequency band #C supports two radio frequency chains, it indicates that the switching delay required for the terminal device to switch between any two frequency bands (e.g., switching from two radio frequency chains supported in frequency band #A to two radio frequency chains supported in frequency band #B, switching from two radio frequency chains supported in frequency band #A to two radio frequency chains supported in frequency band #C, switching from two radio frequency chains supported in frequency band #B to two radio frequency chains supported in frequency band #A, or switching from two radio frequency chains supported in frequency band #B to two radio frequency chains supported in frequency band #C, etc.) is 35 microseconds.

[0189] In this embodiment, the frequency band groups are distinguished from each other, and the network device configures a frequency band group identifier. In this way, the terminal device can report a first switching delay corresponding to the frequency band group identifier (this can also be understood as the terminal device reporting the first switching delay by using the frequency band group as granularity). Compared with the existing approach in which the terminal device reports the switching delay by using each frequency band as granularity, in this embodiment, the signaling overhead can be significantly reduced.

[0190] Step 303: The terminal device sends first information to the network device, where the first information includes first switching delays of the N frequency band groups.

[0191] In a possible implementation, the terminal device sends first capability information (an example of first information) to the network device, where the first capability information includes first switching delays of N frequency band groups. For example, the first switching delays are 0 microseconds and 35 microseconds. For details, please refer to the description of step 202 of method 200 for understanding. The details will not be described again here.

[0192] In another possible implementation, the first capability information includes a frequency band group identifier and a first switching delay corresponding to the frequency band group identifier, for example, the first capability information includes {group #1, first switching delay is 0 microseconds} and {group #2, first switching delay is 35 microseconds}, etc.

[0193] In yet another possible implementation, the first capability information may include the number of transmission radio frequency chains supported in a frequency band in a frequency band group, for example, the number of radio frequency chains supported in frequency band #A and the number of radio frequency chains supported in frequency band #B in group #1 {frequency band #A, frequency band #B}. For example, frequency band #A supports two radio frequency chains and frequency band #B supports two radio frequency chains. In another example, frequency band #A supports two radio frequency chains and frequency band #B supports one radio frequency chain. In yet another example, frequency band #A supports one radio frequency chain and frequency band #B supports one radio frequency chain.

[0194] In a possible implementation, the first capability information may further include a switching delay required for switching from a default or fallback state to a new frequency band by the terminal device. In this case, after the terminal device completes transmission in the current frequency band, the current frequency band may further fall back to the frequency band corresponding to the default / fallback state. For example, the switching delay may be 35 microseconds. The fallback to the frequency band corresponding to the default / fallback state indicates that the phase-locked loop is locked to the frequency band corresponding to the default / fallback state. In this application, the default / fallback state may be predefined or preconfigured by the network device. In this application, preconfiguration may be understood as a configuration implemented by the network device using RRC signaling.

[0195] In a possible implementation, the terminal device may further report an expected minimum value of at least one of K1 or K2 so that the network device can determine appropriate values ​​of K1 or K2 for the terminal device (see the description of step 304 for a description of K1 and K2 in particular).

[0196] Step 304: The network device receives first information, whereby the network device determines scheduling of uplink data based on the first information.

[0197] For example, the terminal device may determine K2 and / or K1 based on the first information. K2 is a delay for scheduling uplink data transmission (also referred to as data processing time or data preparation time), and K1 is a delay from scheduling a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) to feeding back a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH). Specifically, for a description of K2, please refer to Technical Specification (TS) 38.214 of the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) for understanding, and for a description of K1, please refer to Technical Specification TS 38.213 of 3GPP. Details are not described in this application.

[0198] In an example, the network device receives a first switching delay corresponding to N frequency band groups, and determines scheduling of uplink data based on the first information. For example, the network device may determine a slot resource and / or a symbol resource (or a frame resource, or a minislot resource, etc., not limited thereto) to be scheduled based on the first switching delay corresponding to the frequency band group, and use the resource for data transmission in the switched frequency band. Specifically, assuming that the first information received by the network device includes a first switching delay of 35 microseconds corresponding to group #2 ({frequency band #A, frequency band #C}), the network device may determine a resource for transmitting uplink data by the terminal device. For example, a slot in which data is transmitted using frequency band #A and a slot in which data is transmitted using frequency band #B are separated by one symbol.

[0199] In another example, the network device receives a first switching delay corresponding to N frequency band groups and the number of transmission radio frequency chains supported in the frequency bands of the N frequency band groups, and determines scheduling of uplink data based on the first information. Specifically, the network device may schedule resources for uplink data to the terminal device based on a switching delay of 0 microseconds corresponding to group #1 {frequency band #A, frequency band #B}, two radio frequency chains supported in frequency band #A, and two radio frequency chains supported in frequency band #B. For example, a slot in which data is transmitted using frequency band #A and a slot in which data is transmitted using frequency band #B are separated by one symbol.

[0200] Step 305: The network device sends second information to the terminal device, where the second information indicates a target frequency band group identifier.

[0201] For example, the network device may indicate a target frequency band group identifier using a DCI. In this application, the target frequency band group identifier may be one or more of the N frequency band group identifiers. For example, the network device may configure N frequency band group identifiers for a terminal device, and the target frequency band group identifiers may be group #1, group #5, and group #6 of the N frequency band group identifiers.

[0202] Step 306: The terminal device receives the second information, and performs a frequency band switch within the target frequency band group corresponding to the target frequency band group identifier according to an indication of the second information.

[0203] In an example, it is assumed that the target frequency band group identifier indicated by the second information is group #1. In this case, the terminal device may perform frequency band switching within the frequency band group {frequency band #B, frequency band #D} identified by group #1. For example, the terminal device currently transmits data in slot #1 using frequency band #B. It is assumed that the switching time reported by the terminal device and required for switching within the frequency band group identified by frequency band group identifier #2 is 0 microseconds (as described above, the phase-locked loop is pre-configured and the two frequency bands are in separate channels, so the terminal device has no phase-locked loop switching delay). In this case, the network device may perform scheduling for the terminal device to transmit data in slot #2 using frequency band #D. In other words, the terminal device may transmit data in two consecutive slots and consecutive symbols. In another example, the switching time reported by the terminal device and required for switching within the frequency band group identified by frequency band group identifier #2 is assumed to be 35 microseconds (in this case, the terminal device does not have a phase-locked loop switching delay, but a channel switching delay is required). In this case, the network device may implement scheduling for the terminal device to transmit data starting from the second or third symbol in slot #2 using frequency band #D. Based on different subcarrier spacings, the number of symbols that need to be occupied by the switching time may be different, and therefore the number of symbols to be scheduled may be different.

[0204] In another example, when the terminal device cannot complete a frequency band switch in the frequency band group in time at the slot scheduled by the network device (the network device may schedule the terminal device to transmit data in slot #2 using frequency band #D starting from the first symbol), the terminal device performs puncturing on the uplink data. In this case, the network device may perform detection based on the number of uplink symbols originally scheduled, or may perform detection based on the number of symbols that may be reduced. In the latter case, a mask may be added to the uplink demodulation reference signal (UL DMRS), or scrambling may be performed on the UL DMRS, and the number of symbols currently reduced may be indicated using the mask or scrambling information, so that the network device can perform corresponding detection based on the number of reduced symbols. For example, the network device schedules 13 symbols for uplink transmission. When the switching delay of the terminal device requires one more symbol to be occupied, i.e. when the terminal device finds that one symbol is insufficient to be occupied by the delay for switching within the frequency band group, the terminal device punctures more symbols.

[0205] Optionally, encoding may be performed based on 10 symbols for the uplink transmission of the terminal device. Optionally, the network device may detect that the energy of the first four symbols is 0 and perform decoding preferentially based on 10 symbols, or may perform decoding many times based on 11 symbols, 12 symbols, or even 13 symbols. For example, the network device may directly perform detection based on 13 symbols, but the accuracy will be lost to some extent. However, this does not significantly affect the performance of low-order modulation and coding schemes (MCS) (e.g., non-256 quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM)).

[0206] Step 307: The terminal device transmits uplink data using the target frequency band group.

[0207] For example, the terminal device may transmit uplink data on resources scheduled by the network device by using a frequency band in the target frequency band group.

[0208] Based on the method provided in this embodiment, the terminal device may report a first switching delay of N frequency band groups. Here, the first switching delay is a delay for the terminal device to switch between at least two different frequency bands included in the frequency band group. In other words, the terminal device may report a delay for switching within the frequency band group, and the network device may determine a K2 delay so that the terminal device can effectively perform frequency band switching within the frequency band group. In this way, the terminal device flexibly and effectively completes switching between multiple frequency bands, thereby ensuring data transmission performance.

[0209] This application further provides a communication method 400. The method 400 illustrates the steps of another specific embodiment of the technical solution of this application from the viewpoint of interaction between a terminal device and a network device. The procedure of the method 400 is similar to that of the method 300. For details, please refer to the procedure of FIG. 3 for understanding. The details will not be described again.

[0210] In this embodiment, the network device may pre-configure the frequency band groups. For example, the network device may perform the pre-configuration as follows: Frequency band group #1 may include {frequency band #A, frequency band #B}, frequency band group #2 may include {frequency band #A, frequency band #C}, frequency band group #3 may include {frequency band #A, frequency band #B, frequency band #C}, frequency band group #4 may include {frequency band #D}, frequency band group #5 may include {frequency band #A}, etc.

[0211] It should be noted that the frequency band group of the method 300 includes at least two frequency bands. In comparison with the method 300, the frequency band group of the method 400 may include at least one frequency band. In other words, in the method 400, there may be only one frequency band in the frequency band group.

[0212] Step 401: A network device sends frequency band group identification information to a terminal device, where the frequency band group identification information includes at least a first frequency band group identifier and a second frequency band group identifier.

[0213] For example, a network device may transmit RRC signaling to a terminal device, where the RRC signaling includes X frequency band group identifiers. For example, frequency band group identifier #1 (e.g., group #1) identifies frequency band group #1 {frequency band #A, frequency band #B}, frequency band group identifier #2 (e.g., group #2) identifies frequency band group #2 {frequency band #A, frequency band #C}, frequency band group identifier #3 (e.g., group #3) identifies frequency band group #3 {frequency band #A, frequency band #B, frequency band #C}, frequency band group identifier #4 (e.g., group #4) identifies frequency band group #4 {frequency band #D}, frequency band group identifier #5 (e.g., group #5) identifies frequency band group #5 {frequency band #A}, etc.

[0214] Step 402: The terminal device receives frequency band group identification information from the network device, and determines M (M is a positive integer) second switching delays.

[0215] In a possible implementation, in this application, the frequency band group identifiers may be predefined or preconfigured in the protocol.

[0216] For example, the jth second switching delay is a delay for switching by the terminal device between the first frequency band group and the second frequency band group, and the jth second switching delay is one of the M second switching delays. In another example, the kth second switching delay is a delay for switching by the terminal device between the third frequency band group and the fourth frequency band group, and the kth second switching delay is another one of the M second switching delays. In this embodiment, each of the M second switching delays indicates a delay for switching by the terminal device between two frequency band groups.

[0217] In this embodiment, the second switching delay may be an item of a second switching set. For example, the values ​​in the second switching set may be greater than 35 microseconds and less than or equal to 1 millisecond. For example, the second switching set may include {140 microseconds, 210 microseconds, 280 microseconds}, or the second switching set may include {140 microseconds, 210 microseconds, 500 microseconds}, or the second switching set may include {140 microseconds, 280 microseconds, 400 microseconds, 500 microseconds, 1 millisecond}. It should be understood that the values ​​in the second switching set are used as examples only. For example, the second switching set may alternatively include 0 microseconds, 35 microseconds, etc., without limitation in this respect.

[0218] In the example, it is assumed that the terminal device has two phase-locked loops. When the terminal device performs switching between group #4 and group #2, the following scenarios are considered: It is assumed that phase-locked loop #1 is locked to frequency band #D, and phase-locked loop #2 is locked to frequency band #B. When the terminal device switches from frequency band #D to frequency band #A and frequency band #C, the phase-locked loops may use a serial switching method. For example, phase-locked loop #1 may first be relocked to frequency band #A, and then phase-locked loop #2 may be relocked to frequency band #D. The serial switching delay of the phase-locked loops is 280 microseconds. In other words, this application further proposes that switching between frequency band groups requires 280 microseconds based on the above scenario. In this way, the delay for switching by the terminal device between the two frequency band groups can be fully taken into account to facilitate resource scheduling by the network device. This allows the terminal device to complete the switching more efficiently, thereby ensuring data transmission performance. It should be understood that the series switching delay of the phase locked loop may alternatively be another value, for example, 300 microseconds, 350 microseconds, or 400 microseconds, and is not limited herein.

[0219] In another example, it is assumed that the terminal device has two phase-locked loops. When the terminal device performs switching between group #4 and group #2, the following scenarios are considered. It is assumed that phase-locked loop #1 is locked to frequency band #D, and phase-locked loop #2 is locked to frequency band #B. When the terminal device switches from frequency band #D to frequency band #A and frequency band #C, the phase-locked loops may use a partial serial switching method. For example, phase-locked loop #1 is first relocked to frequency band #A, and about 70 microseconds later, phase-locked loop #2 is relocked to frequency band #D. The partial serial switching delay of the phase-locked loop is 210 microseconds. It should be understood that the partial serial switching delay of the phase-locked loop may alternatively be another value, for example, 230 microseconds, 245 microseconds, or 250 microseconds. This is not limited here.

[0220] In another example, it is assumed that the terminal device has two phase-locked loops. When the terminal device performs switching between group #4 and group #2, the following scenarios are considered. It is assumed that phase-locked loop #1 is locked to frequency band #D, and phase-locked loop #2 is locked to frequency band #B. When the terminal device switches from frequency band #D to frequency band #A and frequency band #C, the phase-locked loops may use a parallel switching method. For example, phase-locked loop #2 may be relocked to frequency band #D, and phase-locked loop #1 is relocked to frequency band #A. The parallel switching delay of the phase-locked loops is 140 microseconds. It should be understood that the parallel switching delay of the phase-locked loops may alternatively be another value, for example, 200 microseconds, 150 microseconds, or 180 microseconds. This is not limited here.

[0221] In addition, when determining the second switching delay, the terminal device may further take into account the number of radio frequency chains supported in each frequency band. For example, frequency band #A supports two radio frequency chains, frequency band #B supports two radio frequency chains, and frequency band #C supports transmission by two radio frequency chains. Alternatively, frequency band #A supports two radio frequency chains, frequency band #B supports one radio frequency chain, and frequency band #C supports transmission by two radio frequency chains. Alternatively, frequency band #A supports one radio frequency chain, frequency band #B supports one radio frequency chain, frequency band #C supports transmission by two radio frequency chains, and frequency band #D supports two radio frequency chains. For example, details are listed in Table 2.

[0222] [Table 2]

[0223] For example, the terminal device determines that the second switching delay for switching between group #4 and group #1 is 140 microseconds (which may be switching from group #4 to group #1 or from group #1 to group #4). For example, parallel switching of phase-locked loops may be implemented in this case.

[0224] In another example, the terminal device determines that the second switching delay for switching between group #4 and group #5 is 140 microseconds (which may be switching from group #4 to group #5 or from group #5 to group #4). For example, parallel switching of phase-locked loops may be implemented in this case.

[0225] In yet another example, the terminal device determines that the second switching delay for switching between group #5 and group #2 is 210 microseconds (which may be switching from group #5 to group #2 or from group #2 to group #5). For example, partial serial switching of a phase-locked loop may be implemented in this case.

[0226] In yet another example, the terminal device determines that the second switching delay for switching between group #5 and group #1 is 280 microseconds (which may be switching from group #5 to group #1 or from group #1 to group #5). For example, a series switching of a phase locked loop may be implemented in this case.

[0227] In this embodiment, the frequency band groups are distinguished from each other, and the network device configures a frequency band group identifier. In this way, the terminal device can report a second switching delay corresponding to the frequency band group identifier (this can also be understood as reporting the second switching delay by using the frequency band group as granularity). Compared with the existing approach in which the terminal device reports the switching delay by using each frequency band as granularity, in this embodiment, the signaling overhead can be significantly reduced.

[0228] Step 403: The terminal device sends third information to the network device, where the third information includes at least the j-th second switching delay.

[0229] In this embodiment, the third information may be, for example, capability information of the terminal device.

[0230] In a possible implementation, the third information may include a plurality of second switching delays, for example, a kth second switching delay, a pth second switching delay, etc. Each second switching delay corresponds to a delay for switching between two frequency band groups.

[0231] In another possible implementation, the third information includes a frequency band group identifier and a second switching delay corresponding to the frequency band group identifier, for example, the third information includes {group #1, group #4, second switching delay of 140 microseconds}, {group #4, group #5, second switching delay of 140 microseconds}, and {group #5, group #1, second switching delay of 280 microseconds}, etc.

[0232] In yet another possible implementation, the third information may further include the number of transmission radio frequency chains supported in the frequency bands in the frequency band group, for example, data of the radio frequency chains supported in frequency band #A and the number of radio frequency chains supported in frequency band #B of group #1 {frequency band #A, frequency band #B}. For example, frequency band #A supports one radio frequency chain and frequency band #B supports one radio frequency chain. In another example, frequency band #A of group #5 {frequency band #A} supports two radio frequency chains.

[0233] In a possible implementation, the third information further includes K2' that can be accepted by the terminal device (e.g., K2' is equal to or greater than the duration of three slots or the duration of four slots). For example, K2' can be the existing K2 plus the lock time of the phase-locked loop. In one example, a table can be defined separately for K2', and the value of K2' is different from the value listed in the existing K2 table. When the network device indicates K2' to the terminal device, a table index indication and a K2' value indication are required. In another example, a value of K2' may be further added based on the existing K2 table. For example, a bit may be extended. In this case, a table index indication is not required. Optionally, the network device may determine the scheduling of uplink data for the terminal device based on K2' reported by the terminal device. In another possible implementation, the terminal device may instead report the expected minimum values ​​of K1 and K2, so that the network device can determine the appropriate values ​​of K1 and K2 for the terminal device.

[0234] In a possible implementation, the third information may further include a switching delay required for the terminal device to switch from the default state or the fallback state to the new frequency band. In this case, after the terminal device completes the transmission in the current frequency band, the current frequency band may further fall back to the frequency band corresponding to the default state / fallback state to perform the data transmission. For example, the switching delay may be 140 microseconds, 210 microseconds, or 280 microseconds. In another example, the switching delay may alternatively be 400 microseconds, 500 microseconds, or 1 millisecond, etc.

[0235] Step 404: The network device receives the third information, and determines scheduling of the uplink data based on the third information.

[0236] For example, the terminal device may determine K2 and / or K1 based on the third information. For a description of K1 and K2, please refer to the description of step 304 of the method 300. The details will not be described again here.

[0237] In an example, the network device receives the second switching delay and determines the scheduling of uplink data based on the third information. For example, the network device may determine slot resources to be scheduled based on the second switching delay corresponding to the frequency band group identifier, and use the resources for data transmission in the switched frequency band group. Specifically, assuming that the third information received by the network device includes {group #1, group #4, second switching delay being 140 microseconds}, the network device may determine resources for transmitting uplink data by the terminal device.

[0238] For example, the network device determines that the slots in which group #1 is scheduled to transmit data and the slots in which group #2 is scheduled to transmit data are separated by four symbols.

[0239] Step 405: The network device sends fourth information to the terminal device, where the fifth information indicates a target frequency band group identifier.

[0240] For example, the network device may indicate a target frequency band group identifier using a DCI. In this application, the target frequency band group identifier may be at least two of the X frequency band group identifiers. For example, the network device may configure X frequency band group identifiers for a terminal device, and the target frequency band group identifier may be group #1 and group #4 of the X frequency band group identifiers.

[0241] Step 406: The terminal device receives the fourth information, and performs frequency band switching within the target frequency band group corresponding to the target frequency band group identifier according to an indication of the fourth information.

[0242] In an example, it is assumed that the target frequency band group identifiers indicated by the fourth information are group #1, group #4, and group #5. In this case, the terminal device may perform frequency band switching between three frequency band groups. It is assumed that the terminal device performs switching between group #1 and group #4. For example, the terminal device currently transmits data in slot #1 using a frequency band included in group #1. It is assumed that the switching time reported by the terminal device and required to switch between group #1 and group #4 is 140 microseconds (as described above, parallel switching of a phase-locked loop may be performed). In this case, the network device may perform scheduling for the terminal device to transmit data in slot #2 using group #4 starting from the fifth symbol or the sixth symbol.

[0243] In another example, when the terminal device cannot switch between frequency band groups in time at the slot scheduled by the network device (the network device performs scheduling for the terminal device to transmit data in slot #2 using group #4 starting from the second symbol), the terminal device may perform puncturing on the uplink data. In this case, the network device may perform detection based on the number of uplink symbols originally scheduled, or may perform detection based on the number of symbols that can be reduced. In the latter case, a mask may be added to the uplink demodulation reference signal (UL DMRS), and the number of symbols currently reduced may be indicated using the mask, so that the network device can perform corresponding detection based on the number of reduced symbols. For example, the network device schedules 13 symbols for uplink transmission. When the switching delay of the terminal device needs to occupy three more symbols, i.e., when the terminal device finds that one symbol is insufficient to be occupied by the delay for switching between frequency band groups, the terminal device punctures more symbols.

[0244] Optionally, encoding may be performed based on 10 symbols for the uplink transmission of the terminal device. Optionally, the network device may detect that the energy of the first four symbols is 0 and perform decoding preferentially based on 10 symbols, or may perform decoding multiple times based on 11 symbols, 12 symbols, or even 13 symbols. For example, the network device may directly perform detection based on 13 symbols, but the accuracy will be lost to some extent. However, this does not significantly affect the performance of MCS (e.g., non-256QAM).

[0245] Step 407: The terminal device transmits uplink data using the target frequency band group.

[0246] For example, the terminal device may transmit uplink data on resources scheduled by the network device by using a frequency band in the target frequency band group.

[0247] Based on the method provided in this embodiment, the terminal device may report a second switching delay for switching between frequency band groups. Here, the second switching delay is a delay for the terminal device to switch between the first frequency band group and the second frequency band group. In other words, the terminal device may report a delay for switching between the frequency band groups, and the network device may determine a K2 delay so that the terminal device can effectively perform frequency band switching between the frequency band groups. In this way, the terminal device flexibly and effectively completes switching between multiple frequency bands, thereby ensuring data transmission performance.

[0248] This application further provides a communication method 500. The method 500 illustrates the steps of yet another specific embodiment of the technical solution of this application from the perspective of the interaction between a terminal device and a network device. The procedure of the method 500 is similar to that of the method 300. For details, please refer to the procedure in FIG. 3 for understanding. The details will not be described again.

[0249] In this application, the network device may pre-configure the frequency band groups. For example, the network device may perform the pre-configuration as follows: Frequency band group #1 may include {frequency band #A, frequency band #B}, frequency band group #2 may include {frequency band #A, frequency band #C}, frequency band group #3 may include {frequency band #B}, frequency band group #4 may include {frequency band #D}, frequency band group #5 may include {frequency band #A}, etc.

[0250] It should be noted that the frequency band group of the method 500 may include at least one frequency band, in other words, in the method 500, there may be only one frequency band in the frequency band group.

[0251] Step 501: A network device sends frequency band group switching identification information to a terminal device, where the frequency band group switching identification information includes an identifier of switching by the terminal device between a first frequency band group and a second frequency band group.

[0252] In a possible implementation, in this application, the frequency band group identifiers may be predefined or preconfigured in the protocol.

[0253] For example, a network device may send RRC signaling to a terminal device, where the RRC signaling includes Y frequency band group identifiers.

[0254] For example, frequency band group switching identifier #1 (eg, index #1) identifies switching by a terminal device between group #1 {frequency band #A, frequency band #B} and group #2 {frequency band #A, frequency band #C}.

[0255] For example, frequency band group switching identifier #2 (eg, index #2) identifies switching by a terminal device between group #5 {frequency band #A} and group #2 {frequency band #A, frequency band #C}.

[0256] For example, frequency band group switching identifier #3 (eg, index #3) identifies switching by a terminal device between group #5 {frequency band #A} and group #1 {frequency band #A, frequency band #B}.

[0257] For example, frequency band group switching identifier #4 (eg, index #4) identifies switching by a terminal device between group #5 {frequency band #A} and group #4 {frequency band #D}.

[0258] For example, frequency band group switching identifier #5 (eg, index #5) identifies switching by the terminal device between group #5 {frequency band #A} and group #3 {frequency band #B}.

[0259] Step 502: The terminal device receives frequency band group switching identification information from the network device, and determines M (M is a positive integer) second switching delays.

[0260] In this embodiment, the second switching delay may be an item of a third switching set. For example, the values ​​in the third switching set may be greater than or equal to 0 microseconds and less than or equal to 1 millisecond. For example, the third switching set may include {0 microseconds, 35 microseconds, 140 microseconds, 210 microseconds, 280 microseconds}, the third switching set may include {0 microseconds, 140 microseconds, 210 microseconds, 500 microseconds}, or the third switching set may include {35 microseconds, 280 microseconds, 400 microseconds, 500 microseconds, 1 millisecond}. In particular, for the meaning of the values ​​in the third switching set, please refer to the description of the method 200 and the method 400 for understanding. The details will not be described again here.

[0261] In this embodiment, the second switching delays may correspond to frequency band group switching identifiers that are, for example, {index#1, 140 microseconds}, {index#2, 210 microseconds}, {index#3, 280 microseconds}, {index#4, 0 microseconds}, and {index#5, 35 microseconds}.

[0262] Further, in this embodiment, when determining the second switching delay, the terminal device may further take into account the number of radio frequency chains supported in each frequency band. For example, frequency band #A supports two radio frequency chains, frequency band #B supports two radio frequency chains, and frequency band #C supports transmission by two radio frequency chains. Alternatively, frequency band #A supports two radio frequency chains, frequency band #B supports one radio frequency chain, and frequency band #C supports transmission by two radio frequency chains. Alternatively, frequency band #A supports one radio frequency chain, frequency band #B supports one radio frequency chain, frequency band #C supports transmission by two radio frequency chains, and frequency band #D supports two radio frequency chains, etc. For example, details are listed in Table 3.

[0263] [Table 3]

[0264] In this embodiment, the frequency band groups are distinguished from each other, and the network device configures a frequency band group switching identifier. In this way, the terminal device can report the second switching delay corresponding to the frequency band group switching identifier (e.g., index) (this can also be understood as reporting the second switching delay by using the frequency band group switching as granularity). Compared with the approach in which the second switching delay corresponding to at least two frequency band group identifiers needs to be reported in the method 400, the signaling overhead can be further reduced in this embodiment.

[0265] Step 503: The terminal device sends third information to the network device, where the third information includes at least the j-th second switching delay.

[0266] In this embodiment, the third information may be, for example, capability information of the terminal device.

[0267] In a possible implementation, the third information may include a plurality of second switching delays, for example, a kth second switching delay, a pth second switching delay, etc. Each second switching delay corresponds to one frequency band group switching identifier.

[0268] In another possible implementation, the third information includes a frequency band group switching identifier and a second switching delay corresponding to the frequency band group identifier, for example, {index #1, the second switching delay being 140 microseconds}, {index #2, the second switching delay being 210 microseconds}, and {index #3, the second switching delay being 280 microseconds}, etc.

[0269] In yet another possible implementation, the third information may further include the number of transmission radio frequency chains supported in the frequency bands in the frequency band group, for example, data of the radio frequency chains supported in frequency band #A and the number of radio frequency chains supported in frequency band #B of group #1 {frequency band #A, frequency band #B}. For example, frequency band #A supports one radio frequency chain and frequency band #B supports one radio frequency chain. In another example, frequency band #A of group #5 {frequency band #A} supports two radio frequency chains.

[0270] In a possible implementation, the third information further includes K2', which can be accepted by the terminal device. For details, please refer to the corresponding description of step 403 of method 400. The details will not be described again here.

[0271] In a possible implementation, the third information further includes a switching delay required by the terminal device to switch from a default state or a fallback state to a new frequency band. For details, please refer to the corresponding description of step 403 of method 400. The details will not be described again here.

[0272] Step 504: The network device receives the third information, and determines scheduling of the uplink data based on the third information.

[0273] For example, the terminal device may determine K2 and / or K1 based on the third information. For a description of K1 and K2, please refer to the description of step 304 of the method 300. The details will not be described again here.

[0274] In an example, the network device receives the second switching delay and determines the scheduling of uplink data based on the third information. For example, the network device may determine slot resources to be scheduled based on the second switching delay corresponding to the frequency band group switching identifier, and use the resources for data transmission in the switched frequency band group. Specifically, assuming that the third information received by the network device includes {the second switching delay with index #1, 140 microseconds}, the network device may determine resources for transmitting uplink data by the terminal device.

[0275] For example, the network device determines that the slots in which group #1 is scheduled to transmit data and the slots in which group #2 is scheduled to transmit data are separated by four symbols.

[0276] Step 505: The network device sends fifth information to the terminal device, where the fifth information indicates a target frequency band group switching identifier.

[0277] For example, the network device may indicate a target frequency band group switch identifier using a DCI. In this application, the target frequency band group switch identifier may be one or more of the Y frequency band group switch identifiers. For example, the network device may configure Y frequency band group switch identifiers for a terminal device, and the target frequency band group switch identifier may be index #1 and index #3 of the Y frequency band group switch identifiers.

[0278] Step 506: The terminal device receives the fifth information, and performs frequency band switching between the target frequency band groups corresponding to the target frequency band group switching identifiers according to an indication of the fifth information.

[0279] In the example, it is assumed that the target frequency band group identifier indicated by the fifth information is index #1. In this case, the terminal device may decide to perform switching between group #1 and group #2. For example, the terminal device currently transmits data in slot #1 using the frequency band included in group #1. It is assumed that the switching time reported by the terminal device and required to switch between group #1 and group #2 is 140 microseconds (as described above, parallel switching of the phase-locked loop may be performed). In this case, the network device may perform scheduling for the terminal device to transmit data in slot #2 using group #4 starting from the fifth symbol or the sixth symbol.

[0280] In another example, a puncturing technique may be used when the terminal device is unable to switch between frequency band groups in time at a slot scheduled by the network device. For details, please refer to step 406 of method 400 for understanding. The details will not be described again here.

[0281] Step 507: The terminal device transmits uplink data using the target frequency band group identified by the target frequency band group switching identifier.

[0282] For example, the terminal device may transmit uplink data on resources scheduled by the network device by using a frequency band in the target frequency band group.

[0283] Based on the method provided in this embodiment, the terminal device may report a second switching delay corresponding to a frequency band group switching identifier. Here, the second switching delay is a delay for the terminal device to switch between two frequency band groups. In other words, the terminal device may report a delay for switching between frequency band groups, and the network device may determine a K2 delay so that the terminal device can effectively perform frequency band switching between frequency band groups. In this way, the terminal device flexibly and effectively completes switching between multiple frequency bands, thereby ensuring data transmission performance and reducing signaling overhead.

[0284] As shown in Figure 4, the application further provides a communication method 600. The method includes the following steps.

[0285] Step 601: The end device reports a third switching delay to the network device.

[0286] In this embodiment, the third switching delay can be understood as the delay required by the terminal device to switch between the first state and the second state.

[0287] In an example, the terminal device may report to the network device the number of transmission radio frequency chains (which may also be understood as a first state) supported in a frequency band in a third frequency band group (the third frequency band group may include at least one frequency band). For example, the third frequency band group includes frequency band #A and frequency band #B, where frequency band #A supports one transmission radio frequency chain, and frequency band #B supports one transmission radio frequency chain. In another example, the third frequency band group includes frequency band #A, where frequency band #A supports two transmission radio frequency chains. The terminal device may also report to the network device the number of transmission radio frequency chains (which may also be understood as a second state) supported in a frequency band in a fourth frequency band group (the fourth frequency band group may include at least one frequency band). For example, the fourth frequency band group includes frequency band #C and frequency band #D, where frequency band #C supports one transmission radio frequency chain, and frequency band #D supports transmission by one transmission radio frequency chain. In another example, the fourth frequency band group includes frequency band #B and frequency band #C, where frequency band #B supports one transmission radio frequency chain and frequency band #C supports transmission by one transmission radio frequency chain. The terminal device may also report to the network device a third switching delay required by the terminal device to switch from the third frequency band group to the fourth frequency band group.

[0288] It should be understood that the terminal device may further report a third switching delay between the third state and the fourth state, or a switching delay between the first state and the third state, etc., without being limited thereto.

[0289] For example, the third delay may be 280 microseconds. In another example, the third delay may be 0 microseconds, 35 microseconds, 140 microseconds, 210 microseconds, or 280 microseconds. In yet another example, the third delay may be used by the network device to determine scheduling of the uplink data.

[0290] In a possible implementation, the third switching delay is an item of a fourth switching set, and the values ​​in the fourth switching set are greater than or equal to 0 ms and less than or equal to 1 ms. Alternatively, the values ​​in the fourth switching set may be greater than or equal to the duration of three slots or greater than or equal to the duration of four slots.

[0291] Step 602: The network device may receive a third switching delay and determine scheduling of uplink data for the terminal device based on the third switching delay.

[0292] For details, please refer to the descriptions of step 304 of method 300, step 404 of method 400, and step 504 of method 500. The details will not be described again here.

[0293] Step 603: The network device sends indication information to the terminal device, indicating to the terminal device to switch between the target states.

[0294] For example, the target states may be a first state and a second state. In another example, the target states may be a third state and a fourth state, etc.

[0295] Step 604: The terminal device receives the indication information and performs frequency band switching between the target states.

[0296] For example, the terminal device may switch between a first state and a second state, or the terminal device may switch between a first state and a third state.

[0297] Step 605: The terminal device uses the frequency band in the target state to transmit uplink data on the resource scheduled by the network device.

[0298] Based on the above technical solution, in this application, the terminal device may report a third switching delay for switching between states. The third switching delay may be a typical value. The network device may determine scheduling of uplink data for the terminal device based on the third switching delay, so that the terminal device can effectively perform frequency band switching between states. That is, the terminal device can flexibly and effectively switch between multiple frequency bands, thereby ensuring data transmission performance.

[0299] This application further provides a method 700. For the interaction procedure between the network device and the terminal device, please refer to Fig. 4 of the method 600 for understanding. The details will not be described again.

[0300] Step 701: The terminal device reports a fourth switching delay to the network device.

[0301] In this embodiment, the fourth switching delay may have two values, or any one of two values. The first value may be used, for example, by the network device to determine an advance for scheduling data to the terminal device. For example, the first value may be T procThe first value is the switch time of the frequency band group. In another example, the advance may include a radio frequency tuning delay and a software timing advance (e.g., before the software stops transmitting instructions, the network device constructs new instructions and configures new instructions to the terminal device to indicate to the terminal device to enable a new phase-locked loop). The second value is the interrupt delay for switching within a frequency band group, between frequency band groups, or between states. The first value (the first value may be 280 microseconds or more, and the first value may be, for example, 280 microseconds, 300 microseconds, 430 microseconds, 500 microseconds, or 1 millisecond) is used to schedule switch preparation and belongs to the switch time or radio frequency tuning time (tuning / retuning time) during the scheduling switch preparation time. A second value (which may be less than 280 microseconds, e.g., 0 microseconds, 35 microseconds, 140 microseconds, or 200 microseconds) may be used as a gap for switching within a frequency band group, between frequency band groups, or between states, or may be used for an interruption in switching within a frequency band group, between frequency band groups, or between states.

[0302] Step 702: The network device may receive a fourth switching delay and determine, based on the third switching delay, scheduling of uplink data for the terminal device.

[0303] For example, the network device may determine, for the terminal device based on the first value, a symbol or slot in which a scheduled resource for uplink data is located.

[0304] In another example, the network device determines a delay required for the terminal device to switch within the frequency band group, between the frequency band groups, and between states based on the second value, and determines a location of time domain resources for uplink data of the terminal device based on the delay.

[0305] Optionally, step 703 is further included: the network device sends indication information to the terminal device, indicating to the terminal device to switch between the target frequency bands.

[0306] For example, the target frequency bands may be frequency band #A and frequency band #B. In another example, the target state may be frequency band #A and frequency band #C, etc.

[0307] Optionally, step 704 is further included: the terminal device receives the indication information and performs frequency band switching between the target frequency bands.

[0308] For example, the terminal device may switch between frequency band #A and frequency band #B, or the terminal device switches between frequency band #A and frequency band #C.

[0309] Step 705: The terminal device uses the target frequency band to transmit uplink data on the resources scheduled by the network device.

[0310] In the example, for the second value, when the terminal device cannot complete the frequency band switching in time at the slot scheduled by the network device, the terminal device performs puncturing on the uplink data. In this case, the network device may perform detection based on the number of uplink symbols originally scheduled, or may perform detection based on the number of symbols that can be reduced. In the latter case, a mask may be added to the uplink demodulation reference signal (UL DMRS), or scrambling may be performed on the UL DMRS, and the number of symbols currently reduced may be indicated using the mask or scrambling information, so that the network device can perform corresponding detection based on the number of reduced symbols. For example, the network device schedules 13 symbols for uplink transmission. When the switching delay of the terminal device needs to occupy one more symbol, i.e., when the terminal device finds that one symbol is insufficient to be occupied by the delay for switching within the frequency band group, the terminal device punctures more symbols.

[0311] Optionally, encoding may be performed based on 10 symbols for the uplink transmission of the terminal device. Optionally, the network device may detect that the energy of the first four symbols is 0 and perform decoding preferentially based on 10 symbols, or may perform decoding multiple times based on 11 symbols, 12 symbols, or even 13 symbols. For example, the network device may directly perform detection based on 13 symbols, but the accuracy will be lost to some extent. However, this does not significantly affect the performance of MCS (e.g., non-256QAM).

[0312] Based on the above technical solution, in this application, the terminal device may report a fourth switching delay, and the fourth switching delay may include two values. The terminal device may encode a corresponding symbol according to the two values. If the terminal device cannot complete data transmission within a slot scheduled by the network device, the terminal device may further perform puncturing and indicate to the network device. This can ensure data transmission performance while reducing the duration that the network device performs decoding and ensuring that the terminal device completes switching between frequency bands.

[0313] Furthermore, in this application, in four frequency bands, the number of combinations of the frequency bands of the terminal device and the number of transmission radio frequency chains supported in the frequency bands increase (for example, there are 10 combinations) due to the following two factors: (1) The number of on-chip memories is limited. The on-chip memories support radio frequency channel parameters corresponding to a maximum of six combination states. Each of the four frequency bands (four carriers) supports two radio frequency chains, and there are ten possible combinations. This results in dynamic switching between off-chip and on-chip, which generates switching times for radio frequency parameters. Therefore, the number of parallel combination states supported in the four frequency bands needs to be reduced. (2) Some, one T X +1 T X A combination (e.g., frequency band #A supports one transmission radio frequency chain and frequency band #B supports one transmission radio frequency chain) may have intra-modulation (IMD) interference problems, which increases the difficulty of product design. The terminal device may report the supported state combinations in the 10 state combinations. For example, the terminal device may use the user capability to inform the network device of the two Ts that are specifically supported in the frequency band. X And one T X And one T X +1 TX In this application, it is proposed that the terminal device reports six or fewer combinations of states. This ensures that on-chip storage can be implemented and reduces the time required for dynamic switching.

[0314] This application may specify that in possible implementations, the delay for switching within a frequency band group, the delay for switching between frequency band groups, or the delay for switching between states may exceed 1 millisecond, regardless of subcarrier spacings (SCS).

[0315] In this application, the method 200, the method 300, the method 400, and the method 500 may be combined. For example, the terminal device may report the delay for switching within a frequency band group and the delay for switching between frequency band groups together to the network device. As another example, the network device may transmit a frequency band group identifier, a frequency band group switching identifier, etc. together to the terminal device. In other words, the technical solutions of switching within a frequency band group and switching between frequency band groups may be combined with each other.

[0316] It can be understood that the examples of methods 200 to 700 in the embodiments of this application are merely intended to help those skilled in the art understand the embodiments of this application, but do not limit the embodiments of this application to the specific scenarios of the examples. It is obvious that those skilled in the art can make various equivalent modifications or variations to the examples of methods 200 to 700, and such modifications or variations also fall within the scope of the embodiments of this application.

[0317] It may also be understood that some optional features in the embodiments of this application may be independent of other features in some scenarios and may be combined with other features in some scenarios, without any limitation in this regard.

[0318] It can be understood that the embodiments described in this application may be independent solutions or may be combined based on internal logic. All these solutions fall within the scope of protection of this application. In addition, the interpretation or description of the terms in the embodiments may be mutually referenced or interpreted in the embodiments. This is not limited.

[0319] It may also be understood that the sequence numbers of various numbers in the implementation of this application do not imply an execution order, but are merely for differentiation for ease of explanation, and therefore should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of this application. For example, in method 300, steps 301 and 305 may be performed simultaneously, i.e., the network device also delivers the target frequency band group identifier when sending the frequency band group identifier to the terminal device.

[0320] It is to be understood that in this application "predefine" can be understood as "define," "predefine," "store," "prestore," "prenegotiate," "preconfigure," "incorporate into," or "pre-burn."

[0321] In this application, "when," "if," and "in the case of" can all be understood to mean that an apparatus performs the corresponding processing in a target situation, but do not imply any time limitations, do not require that an apparatus have a determining operation during implementation, and do not imply any other limitations.

[0322] In this specification, the term "and / or" can be understood to describe only the relational relationship for describing related objects, and to indicate that three relations may exist. For example, A and / or B may indicate three cases: only A exists, both A and B exist, and only B exists. In addition, in this specification, the character " / " generally indicates an "or" relationship between related objects.

[0323] The above mainly describes the solutions provided in the embodiments of this application from the perspective of interactions between nodes. To implement the aforementioned functions, nodes such as terminal devices and network devices can be understood to include corresponding hardware structures and / or software modules for implementing the functions. Those skilled in the art should recognize that, in combination with the units and algorithm steps in the examples described in the embodiments disclosed herein, this application can be implemented by hardware or by a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether the functions are implemented using hardware or by computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art may use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but the implementation should not be considered to go beyond the scope of this application.

[0324] In the embodiment of this application, the functional modules of the terminal device and the network device may be obtained by division based on the above method example. For example, the functional modules may be obtained by division corresponding to functions, or two or more functions may be integrated into one processing module. The integrated module may be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of a software functional module. The division into modules in the embodiment of this application is an example, which is merely a logical functional division, and may be other divisions during actual implementation. In the following, an example in which the functional modules are obtained by division corresponding to functions is used for explanation.

[0325] 5 is a block diagram of a communication device 100 according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in the figure, the device 100 may include a transceiver unit 110 and a processing unit 120.

[0326] In a possible design, the apparatus 100 may be a terminal device in the above-mentioned method embodiments, or may be a chip configured to implement the functions of the terminal device in the above-mentioned method embodiments. It should be understood that the apparatus 100 may correspond to the terminal device of the method 200, the method 300, the method 400, the method 500, the method 600, and the method 700 according to the embodiments of this application. The apparatus 100 may perform steps corresponding to the terminal device of the method 200, the method 300, the method 400, the method 500, the method 600, and the method 700 according to the embodiments of this application.

[0327] In a possible implementation, the processing unit is configured to determine first switching delays of the N frequency band groups, and the transceiver unit is configured to transmit first information, the first information including the first switching delays of the N frequency band groups.

[0328] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit is configured to receive frequency band group identification information, the frequency band group identification information comprising N frequency band group identifiers.

[0329] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit is configured to receive second information, the second information indicating a target frequency band group identifier, and the processing unit is configured to perform frequency band switching within a target frequency band group corresponding to the target frequency band group identifier based on the second information, the target frequency band group identifier being one or more of the N frequency band group identifiers.

[0330] In a possible implementation, the processing unit is configured to determine M second switching delays, a jth second switching delay being a delay for switching by the terminal device between the first frequency band group and the second frequency band group, the jth second switching delay being one of the M second switching delays, the first frequency band group and the second frequency band group each including at least one frequency band, M being a positive integer, and the transceiver unit is configured to transmit third information, the third information including at least the jth second switching delay.

[0331] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit is configured to receive frequency band group identification information, the frequency band group identification information including at least a first frequency band group identifier and a second frequency band group identifier.

[0332] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit is configured to receive fourth information, where the fourth information indicates a target frequency band group identifier, and the processing unit is configured to perform frequency band switching between target frequency band groups corresponding to the target frequency band group identifier based on the fourth information, where the target frequency band group identifier is at least two of the X frequency band group identifiers.

[0333] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit is configured to receive frequency band group switch identification information, the frequency band group switch identification information including at least the j-th frequency band group switch identifier.

[0334] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit is configured to receive fifth information from the network device, the fifth information indicating a target frequency band group switch identifier, and the processing device is configured to perform frequency band switching between target frequency band groups corresponding to the target frequency band group switch identifier based on the fifth information, where the target frequency band group switch identifier is one or more of the Y frequency band group switch identifiers.

[0335] In a possible design, the apparatus 100 may be a network device in the above-mentioned method embodiments, or may be a chip configured to implement the functions of the terminal device in the above-mentioned method embodiments. It should be understood that the apparatus 100 may correspond to the network device of the method 200, the method 300, the method 400, the method 500, the method 600, and the method 700 according to the embodiments of this application. The apparatus 100 may perform steps corresponding to the network device of the method 200, the method 300, the method 400, the method 500, the method 600, and the method 700 according to the embodiments of this application.

[0336] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit is configured to receive first information, the first information including first switching delays of the N frequency band groups, the N frequency band groups including an i-th frequency band group, the first switching delays of the N frequency band groups including an i-th first switching delay, the i-th first switching delay being a delay for switching by the terminal device between at least two different frequency bands included in the i-th frequency band group, N being a positive integer, and the processing unit is configured to determine scheduling of the uplink data based on the first information.

[0337] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit is configured to transmit frequency band group identification information, the frequency band group identification information comprising N frequency band group identifiers.

[0338] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit is configured to transmit second information, where the second information indicates a target frequency band group identifier, the target frequency band group identifier indicating to the terminal device to perform frequency band switching within a target frequency band group corresponding to the target frequency band group identifier, where the target frequency band group identifier is one or more of the N frequency band group identifiers.

[0339] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit is configured to receive third information, the third information including at least a jth second switching delay, the jth second switching delay being a delay for switching by the terminal device between the first frequency band group and the second frequency band group, the jth second switching delay being one of M second switching delays, each of the first frequency band group and the second frequency band group including at least one frequency band, M being a positive integer, and the processing unit is configured to determine scheduling of the uplink data based on the third information.

[0340] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit is configured to transmit frequency band group identification information, the frequency band group identification information including at least a first frequency band group identifier and a second frequency band group identifier.

[0341] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit is configured to transmit fourth information, where the fourth information indicates a target frequency band group identifier, where the target frequency band group identifier is used to perform frequency band switching between the target frequency band groups corresponding to the target frequency band group identifier, where the target frequency band group identifier is at least two of the X frequency band group identifiers.

[0342] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit is configured to transmit frequency band group switch identification information, the frequency band group switch identification information including at least the j-th frequency band group switch identifier.

[0343] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit is configured to transmit fifth information, where the fifth information indicates a target frequency band group switching identifier, where the target frequency band group switching identifier indicates to the terminal device to perform frequency band switching between the target frequency band groups corresponding to the target frequency band group switching identifier, where the target frequency band group switching identifier is one or more of the Y frequency band group switching identifiers.

[0344] It is also to be understood herein that the device 100 is embodied in the form of a functional unit. Here, the term "unit" may be an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (e.g., a shared processor, a dedicated processor, or a packet processor) configured to execute one or more software or firmware programs, a memory, an association logic circuit, and / or other suitable components supporting the described functionality. To avoid repetition, the details will not be described again here.

[0345] The device 100 in each of the above solutions has a function of implementing the corresponding step performed by the terminal device or network device of the above method. The function may be implemented using hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above function. For example, the transceiver unit may be replaced by a transceiver (e.g., the transmitting unit of the transceiver unit may be replaced by a transmitter, and the receiving unit of the transceiver unit may be replaced by a receiver), and other units such as the processing unit may be replaced by a processor to respectively perform the transmitting and receiving operations and the related processing operations in the method embodiments.

[0346] Additionally, the transceiver unit 110 may alternatively be a transceiver circuit (which may include, for example, a receiving circuit and a transmitting circuit) and the processing unit may be a processing circuit.

[0347] It should be noted that the device in Fig. 5 may be a terminal device or a network device in the above-mentioned embodiment, or may be a chip or a chip system, such as a system on chip (SoC). The transceiver unit may be an input / output circuit or a communication interface. The processing unit is a processor, a microprocessor, or an integrated circuit integrated on a chip. This is not limited here.

[0348] 6 is a block diagram of a communication device 200 according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in the figure, the device 200 includes at least one processor 220. The processor 220 is coupled to a memory and configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to transmit and / or receive signals. Optionally, the device 200 further includes a memory 230 configured to store instructions. Optionally, the device 200 further includes a transceiver 210, where the processor 220 controls the transceiver 210 to transmit and / or receive signals.

[0349] It should be understood that the processor 220 and the memory 230 may be integrated into a processing device, and the processor 220 is configured to implement the above-described functionality by executing program code stored in the memory 230. During a particular implementation, the memory 230 may alternatively be integrated into the processor 220 or may be separate from the processor 220.

[0350] It should also be understood that the transceiver 210 may include a transceiver (also called a receiver) and a transmitter (also called a transmitter). The transceiver may further include an antenna. There may be one or more antennas. The transceiver 210 may be a communication interface or interface circuit.

[0351] In particular, the transceiver 210 of the device 200 may correspond to the transceiver unit 110 of the device 100 , and the processor 220 of the device 200 may correspond to the processing unit 120 of the device 200 .

[0352] In the solution, the apparatus 200 is configured to implement the operations performed by the terminal device of the above method embodiments.

[0353] For example, the processor 220 is configured to execute computer programs or instructions stored in the memory 230 to implement relevant operations performed by the radio access network device of the aforementioned method embodiments (e.g., a method performed by a terminal device of any one of the embodiments of methods 200 to 600).

[0354] In another solution, the apparatus 200 is configured to implement the operations performed by the network device of the aforementioned method embodiments.

[0355] For example, the processor 220 is configured to execute computer programs or instructions stored in the memory 230 to implement associated operations performed by the network device of the aforementioned method embodiments (e.g., a method performed by a network device of any one of the embodiments of methods 200 to 700).

[0356] It should be understood that the specific operations performed by the transceiver and the processor to perform the corresponding steps have been detailed in the method embodiments above, and for the sake of brevity, the details will not be described again here.

[0357] In the implementation process, the steps of the aforementioned method may be implemented using integrated logic circuits of the hardware of the processor, or using instructions in the form of software. The steps of the method disclosed with reference to the embodiments of this application may be directly implemented using a hardware processor, or may be implemented using a combination of the hardware and software modules of the processor. The software modules may be installed in a mature storage medium in the art, such as a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, an electrically erasable programmable memory, or a register. The storage medium is installed in the memory, and the processor reads information from the memory and completes the steps of the aforementioned method in combination with the hardware of the processor. To avoid repetition, the details will not be described again here.

[0358] It should be noted that the processor of the embodiments of this application may be an integrated circuit chip and has signal processing capabilities. In the implementation process, the steps of the aforementioned method embodiments may be implemented using integrated logic circuits of the processor's hardware or using instructions in the form of software. The aforementioned processor may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), another programmable logic device, a discrete gate, a transistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component. The processor may implement or perform the methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of this application. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, or the processor may be any conventional processor, etc. The steps of the methods disclosed with reference to the embodiments of this application may be directly implemented using a hardware decoding processor, or may be performed using a combination of hardware and software modules of the decoding processor. The software module may be installed in a mature storage medium in the art, such as a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, an electrically erasable programmable memory, or a register. The storage medium is installed in the memory, and the processor reads information from the memory and completes the steps of the above method in combination with the hardware of the processor.

[0359] It can be understood that the memory of the embodiments of this application may be volatile or non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory may be read-only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), erasable PROM (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or flash memory. The volatile memory may be random access memory (RAM) and is used as an external cache. By way of example and not of limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), synchronous link dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM), and direct rambus random access memory (DR RAM). It should be noted that memory in the systems and methods described herein is intended to include, but is not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0360] Based on the method provided in the embodiments of this application, this application further provides a computer program product, which stores a computer program code, which, when run on a computer, enables the computer to perform the method performed by a terminal device or a network device in any one of the embodiments of the methods 200 to 700.

[0361] Based on the method provided in the embodiment of this application, this application further provides a computer-readable medium, which stores a program code, and when the program code is run on a computer, the computer can perform the method implemented by the terminal device or network device of the above embodiment.

[0362] Based on the method provided in the embodiment of this application, this application further provides a communication system. The communication system includes a terminal device and a network device. The terminal device is configured to perform steps corresponding to the terminal device of the aforementioned methods 200 to 700, and the network device is configured to perform steps corresponding to the network device of the aforementioned methods 200 to 700.

[0363] For the description of the relevant contents and beneficial effects of any of the devices provided above, please refer to the corresponding method embodiments provided above, and the details will not be described again here.

[0364] All or part of the above-mentioned embodiments may be implemented using software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When software is used to implement the above-mentioned embodiments, all or part of the above-mentioned embodiments may be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer instructions are loaded and executed in a computer, the procedures or functions according to the embodiments of this application are generated completely or partially. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or another programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from a computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer instructions may be transmitted from a website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center by wired (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optics, or digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, radio, or microwave) methods. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium accessible to a computer, or may be a data storage device, such as a server or data center, that consolidates one or more available media. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., a floppy disk, a hard disk, or a magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., a digital video disc (DVD)), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., a solid state disk (SSD)).

[0365] In the above device embodiments, corresponding modules or units perform corresponding steps. For example, a transceiver unit (transceiver) may perform a receiving step or a transmitting step in a method embodiment, and a processing unit (processor) may perform steps other than a transmitting step and a receiving step. For specific functions of the units, please refer to the corresponding method embodiments. There may be one or more processors.

[0366] As used herein, terms such as "component," "module," and "system" are used to indicate computer-related entities, hardware, firmware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or software being executed. For example, a component may be, but is not limited to, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable file, a thread of execution, a program, and / or a computer. As shown in the figure, both a computing device and an application running on a computing device may be a component. One or more components may reside within a process and / or thread of execution, and a component may be located on one computer and / or distributed among two or more computers. Additionally, these components may execute from various computer-readable media that store various data structures. For example, a component may implement communication based on signals having one or more data packets (e.g., data from two components interacting with another component in a local system, in a distributed system, and / or across a network such as the Internet that interacts with other systems using signals) using local and / or remote processing.

[0367] Those skilled in the art can recognize that, in combination with the examples described in the embodiments disclosed herein, the units and algorithm steps can be implemented by electronic hardware, or by a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether a function is implemented by hardware or software depends on the specific application and the design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but the implementation is not considered to go beyond the scope of this application.

[0368] It can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that, for ease and brevity of description, the detailed work processes of the above-mentioned systems, devices and units may be referred to the corresponding processes of the above-mentioned method embodiments, and the details will not be described again here.

[0369] In some embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices, and methods may be implemented in other manners. For example, the device embodiments described are merely examples. For example, the division into units is merely a logical division of functions, and other divisions may be possible during actual implementation. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be omitted or not implemented. In addition, the shown or discussed mutual couplings or direct couplings or communication connections may be implemented through some interfaces. Indirect couplings or communication connections between devices or units may be implemented in electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0370] The units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separated, and the parts shown as units may or may not be physical units. Specifically, these parts may be located in one place or distributed among multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected according to the actual requirements for achieving the objectives of the solutions of the embodiments.

[0371] In addition, the functional units of the embodiments of this application may be integrated into one processing unit, each of the units may exist physically alone, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0372] When the function is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, the function may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on such understanding, the essential technical solution of this application, or a part that contributes to the prior art, or a part of the technical solution may be implemented in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes some instructions for instructing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, a network device, etc.) to perform all or part of the steps of the method described in the embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes any medium that can store program code, such as a USB flash drive, a removable hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

[0373] References throughout this specification to an "embodiment" should be understood to indicate that the particular feature, structure, or characteristic associated with this embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of this application. Thus, the embodiments throughout this specification are not necessarily the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

[0374] It should be understood that ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" referred to in the embodiments of this application are used to distinguish between multiple objects, and do not limit the size, content, order, time order, priority, importance, etc. of the multiple objects. For example, the first PDSCH and the second PDSCH may be the same physical channel or different physical channels. In addition, these names do not indicate that the two physical channels have different information amounts, contents, priorities, importance, etc.

[0375] In this application, "at least one" should be understood to mean one or more, and "multiple" means two or more. "At least one item" or similar expressions means one or more items, i.e., any combination of these items, including any combination of singular items or multiple items. For example, at least one item of a, b, or c represents a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, or abc.

[0376] It should also be understood that in the embodiments of this application, "B corresponding to A" indicates that B is associated with A and that B can be determined based on A. However, it should also be understood that determining B based on A does not mean that B is determined based only on A. B can alternatively be determined based on A and / or other information.

[0377] The above description is merely a specific implementation of this application and does not limit the protection scope of this application. Any variations or replacements that can be readily understood by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this application should be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. determining, by a terminal device, first switching delays of N frequency band groups, the N frequency band groups including an i-th frequency band group, the first switching delays of the N frequency band groups including an i-th first switching delay, the i-th first switching delay being a delay for switching by the terminal device between at least two different frequency bands included in the i-th frequency band group, where N is a positive integer; transmitting, by the terminal device, first information to a network device, the first information including the first switching delay of the N frequency band groups; A communication method comprising:

2. The first information further includes an i-th frequency band group identifier, the i-th frequency band group identifier being any one of N frequency band group identifiers, and the N frequency band group identifiers correspond one-to-one to the switching delays of the N frequency band groups. The method of claim 1.

3. The method comprises: receiving, by the terminal device, frequency band group identification information from the network device, the frequency band group identification information including the N frequency band group identifiers. The method of claim 2.

4. The first information further includes a number of transmission radio frequency chains supported by the terminal device in the at least two different frequency bands, and the first information is used by the network device to determine scheduling of uplink data. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. the first switching delay is an item of a first switching set, the first switching set including 0 microseconds and 35 microseconds; The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The method comprises: receiving, by the terminal device, second information from the network device, the second information indicating a target frequency band group identifier; performing, by the terminal device, a frequency band switching within a target frequency band group corresponding to the target frequency band group identifier based on the second information, the target frequency band group identifier being one or more of the N frequency band group identifiers; Further comprising: The method according to any one of claims 2 to 5.

7. determining, by a terminal device, M second switching delays, a j-th second switching delay being a delay for switching by the terminal device between a first frequency band group and a second frequency band group, the j-th second switching delay being one of the M second switching delays, the first frequency band group and the second frequency band group each including at least one frequency band, and M being a positive integer; transmitting, by the terminal device, third information to a network device, the third information including at least the j-th second switching delay; A communication method comprising:

8. the third information further includes at least a first frequency band group identifier and a second frequency band group identifier. The method of claim 7.

9. The method comprises: receiving, by the terminal device, frequency band group identification information from the network device, the frequency band group identification information including at least the first frequency band group identifier and the second frequency band group identifier. The method according to claim 8.

10. The third information further includes a number of transmission radio frequency chains supported by the terminal device in the frequency bands included in the first frequency band group and the second frequency band group, and the third information is used by the network device to determine scheduling of uplink data.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9.

11. the second switching delay is an item of a second switching set, the second switching set including 140 microseconds, 210 microseconds, and 280 microseconds; The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10.

12. The frequency band group identification information includes X frequency band group identifiers, X being a positive integer, and the method further comprises: receiving, by the terminal device, fourth information from the network device, the fourth information indicating a target frequency band group identifier; performing, by the terminal device, a frequency band switching among the target frequency band groups corresponding to the target frequency band group identifiers based on the fourth information, the target frequency band group identifiers being at least two of the X frequency band group identifiers; Further comprising: The method according to any one of claims 9 to 11.

13. The third information further includes at least a j-th frequency band group switching identifier, the j-th frequency band group switching identifier being an identifier of switching by the terminal device between the first frequency band group and the second frequency band group. The method according to claim 7.

14. The method comprises: and further comprising: receiving, by the terminal device, frequency band group switching identification information from the network device, the frequency band group switching identification information including at least the j-th frequency band group switching identifier. The method of claim 13.

15. the third information further includes a number of transmission radio frequency chains supported by the terminal device in frequency bands included in the first frequency band group and the second frequency band group identified by the jth frequency band group switching identifier, and the third information is used by the network device to determine scheduling of uplink data for transmission.

15. The method according to claim 13 or 14.

16. the second switching delay is an item of a third switching set, the third switching set including 0 microseconds, 35 microseconds, 140 microseconds, 210 microseconds, and 280 microseconds; The method according to any one of claims 13 to 15.

17. The frequency band group switch identifiers include Y frequency band group switch identifiers, Y being a positive integer, and the method further comprises: receiving, by the terminal device, fifth information from the network device, the fifth information indicating a target frequency band group switching identifier; performing, by the terminal device, a frequency band switching among the target frequency band groups corresponding to the target frequency band group switching identifiers based on the fifth information, the target frequency band group switching identifiers being one or more of the Y frequency band group switching identifiers; Further comprising: The method according to any one of claims 14 to 16.

18. receiving, by a network device, first information from a terminal device, the first information including first switching delays of N frequency band groups, the N frequency band groups including an i-th frequency band group, the first switching delays of the N frequency band groups including an i-th first switching delay, the i-th first switching delay being a delay for switching by the terminal device between at least two different frequency bands included in the i-th frequency band group, where N is a positive integer; determining, by the network device, a schedule for uplink data based on the first information; A communication method comprising:

19. The first information further includes an i-th frequency band group identifier, the i-th frequency band group identifier being any one of N frequency band group identifiers, and the N frequency band group identifiers correspond one-to-one to the switching delays of the N frequency band groups.

20. The method of claim 18.

20. The method comprises: transmitting, by the network device, frequency band group identification information to the terminal device, the frequency band group identification information including the N frequency band group identifiers.

20. The method of claim 19.

21. the first information further comprises a number of transmission radio frequency chains supported by the terminal device in the at least two different frequency bands. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 20.

22. the first switching delay is an item of a first switching set, the first switching set including 0 microseconds and 35 microseconds; The method according to any one of claims 18 to 21.

23. The method comprises: and transmitting, by the network device, second information to the terminal device, the second information indicating a target frequency band group identifier, the target frequency band group identifier indicating the terminal device to perform frequency band switching within a target frequency band group corresponding to the target frequency band group identifier, the target frequency band group identifier being one or more of the N frequency band group identifiers. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 22.

24. receiving, by a network device, third information from a terminal device, the third information including at least a jth second switching delay, the jth second switching delay being a delay for switching by the terminal device between a first frequency band group and a second frequency band group, the jth second switching delay being one of M second switching delays, the first frequency band group and the second frequency band group each including at least one frequency band, and M being a positive integer; determining, by the network device, a schedule for uplink data based on the third information; A communication method comprising:

25. the third information further includes at least a first frequency band group identifier and a second frequency band group identifier.

25. The method of claim 24.

26. The method comprises: transmitting, by the network device, frequency band group identification information to the network device, the frequency band group identification information including at least the first frequency band group identifier and the second frequency band group identifier.

26. The method of claim 25.

27. the third information further includes a number of transmission radio frequency chains supported by the terminal device in frequency bands included in the first frequency band group and the second frequency band group; 27. The method of claim 25 or 26.

28. the second switching delay is an item of a second switching set, the second switching set including 140 microseconds, 210 microseconds, and 280 microseconds; The method according to any one of claims 25 to 27.

29. The frequency band group identification information includes X frequency band group identifiers, X being a positive integer, and the method further comprises: and transmitting, by the network device, fourth information to the terminal device, the fourth information indicating a target frequency band group identifier, the target frequency band group identifier being used to perform frequency band switching between target frequency band groups corresponding to the target frequency band group identifier, the target frequency band group identifier being at least two of the X frequency band group identifiers. The method according to any one of claims 25 to 28.

30. The third information further includes at least a j-th frequency band group switching identifier, the j-th frequency band group switching identifier being an identifier of switching by the terminal device between the first frequency band group and the second frequency band group.

25. The method of claim 24.

31. The method comprises: and further comprising: transmitting, by the network device, frequency band group switching identification information to the terminal device, the frequency band group switching identification information including at least the j-th frequency band group switching identifier.

31. The method of claim 30.

32. The third information further includes a number of transmission radio frequency chains supported by the terminal device in frequency bands included in the first frequency band group and the second frequency band group identified by the j-th frequency band group switching identifier.

32. The method of claim 30 or 31.

33. the second switching delay is an item of a third switching set, the third switching set including 0 microseconds, 35 microseconds, 140 microseconds, 210 microseconds, and 280 microseconds; 33. The method according to any one of claims 30 to 32.

34. The frequency band group switch identifiers include Y frequency band group switch identifiers, Y being a positive integer, and the method further comprises: and transmitting, by the network device, fifth information to the terminal device, the fifth information indicating a target frequency band group switching identifier, the target frequency band group switching identifier indicating the terminal device to perform frequency band switching between target frequency band groups corresponding to the target frequency band group switching identifier, the target frequency band group switching identifier being one or more of the Y frequency band group switching identifiers. The method according to any one of claims 30 to 33.

35. A communications device, the communications device comprising a processor and a memory, the memory configured to store a computer program or instructions, and the processor configured to execute the computer program or instructions in the memory, thereby implementing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, claims 7 to 17, claims 18 to 23, or claims 24 to 34.

36. A computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, the computer program enabling the computer to carry out a method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, claims 7 to 17, claims 18 to 23, or claims 24 to 34, when the computer program is executed on a computer.

37. A computer program product comprising instructions used to perform a method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, claims 7 to 17, claims 18 to 23 or claims 24 to 34.

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